Lok Sabha Question No. 536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Promotion of Entrepreneurship
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED   QUESTION   No. 536 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  DECEMBER, 2015

## PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP QUESTION

## 536 : SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  educate  and  equip  potential  and  early stage entrepreneurs across India;
- (b) the  number  of  entrepreneurs  connected  to  peers,  mentors,  incubators  during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c)  the number of e-Hubs set up to promote entrepreneurship and the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to boost entrepreneurship amongst women, under-represented  groups  and  social  entrepreneurs,  State  -wise  including  Himachal Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

(a) to (d) The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 15 th July,  2015. The policy envisages fostering social entrepreneurship  and  grassroots  innovation  by  providing  support  in  terms  of  fiscal incentives, creation of grass root technology innovation hubs, legal support and market linkages. In the entrepreneurship domain, the policy envisages catalysing a culture shift to encourage  entrepreneurship,  supporting  entrepreneurs  through  entrepreneurship  hubs (E-Hubs),  inclusivity,  promoting  entrepreneurship  amongst  women  and  ease  of  doing business.

A  number  of  Ministries  are  involved  for  development  of  entrepreneurship including  women entrepreneurship through various programmes and interventions. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council  (BIRAC),  a  PSU  of  DBT,  has  taken  a  number  of  steps  to  educate  and  equip potential  and  early  stage  entrepreneurs  across  India  through    Biotechnology  Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), agencies under which conduct entrepreneurship workshops for potential and early stage entrepreneurs across India as well as providing hands-on training through roadshows and organising regulatory compliance workshops. BIRAC has been a pioneer in promoting the innovation research and ecosystem in the country.  In  order  to  promote  the  innovation  hubs  in  the  country,  it  has  supported  and strengthened the innovative R & D infrastructure in 15 bio-incubators across the country. 5 University Innovation Clusters have been initiated to promote the innovation entrepreneurship  at  University  level.  It  has  supported  eleven  incubators  have  186 incubatees /associates who have been connected to peers and mentors. Further, BIRAC has also supported 155 entrepreneurs through its BIG programme which is implemented by five partners who connect the entrepreneurs to peers and mentors.

Similarly,  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME)  has  been implementing special, dedicated schemes for Women entrepreneurship development to facilitate  employment  opportunity  for  women.  These  schemes  are  Trade  Related Entrepreneurship  Assistance  and  Development  (TREAD)  Scheme)  and  'Mahila  Coir Yojana'  throughout  the  country  including  Himachal  Pradesh.  The  TREAD  Scheme envisages economic empowerment exclusively of women through trade relates training, information and counselling extension activities related to trades, products, services etc. Under  the  scheme  financial  loans  are  provided  by  Nationalised  Banks  and  grants  by Government of India at the rate 30% of the loan subject to maximum limit of Rs 30.00 lakh through NGOs for capacity building and for undertaking self-employment ventures by women in non- farm activities. Under Mahila Coir Yojana, financial assistance is provided for  motorized  rats  for  spinning  coir  yarn  to  women  artisans  after  giving  training. Government  provides  motorised  rats/motorised  traditional  rats  at  75%  cost  subsidy subject to maximum ceiling of Rs 7500/- for motorised rats and Rs.3200/- for motorised rats. The remaining 25% is raised by the beneficiaries. Fund allocated for these schemes during  the  current  year  (2015-16)  is  Rs  6.70  crore.    Since  these  are  Central  Sector Schemes, funds are not allocated state /UT wise.

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