Lok Sabha Question No. 2849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Developing Entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## †2849. DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG THE SCHEDULED CASTES

## SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has created a corpus fund to promote entrepreneurship among the Schedule

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds earmarked for the purpose and the name of the nodal agency identified for operating the above corpus fund;

(c) whether the Government has launched any "Green Business Scheme" for providing financial assist Scheduled Castes for business initiatives so as to help them combat climate change;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes benefited/likely to be benefited fr scheme; and

(f)  the  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  overall  development  of ntre r eurship  among  the Scheduled Castes in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FO R SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched Venture Capit for Scheduled  Castes  to  promote  entrepreneurship  among  the  Scheduled  Castes.  The  Fund  pro concessional finance to the Scheduled Castes entrepreneurs, who will create wealth and value for s the same time will promote profitable businesses and enhance direct and indirect employment generation fo Scheduled Castes. An initial fund of Rs. 200.00 crores has been released to IFCI limited, which agency to implement the scheme.

(c) & (d): Yes Madam. The National Scheduled Castes Finance a nd Development Corporation (NSFDC), a Public  Sector  Undertaking  under  the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  has  launched  G Business Scheme, to provide financial assistance in form of loan for the activities which could ta climate  chang e  alongwith  income  generation  to  the  persons  belonging  to  Scheduled  Caste  living  b Double the Poverty Line (presently annual family income upto Rs. 98,000/ - for  rural  areas  and  upto  Rs. 1,20,000/ -for urban areas).

(e) The NSFDC has sanctioned funds R s. 2665.30 lakh covering 2268 beneficiaries for implementation of Green Business Scheme during 2015 - 16 (upto 29.2.2016).

(f)  The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  has  also  launched  Credit  Enhancement  Guaran Scheme  for  the  Scheduled  Castes ,  with  an  initial  capital  of  Rs.  200.00  crores,  for  development entrepreneurship  among  the  Scheduled  Castes  in  the  country.  The  IFCI  Ltd.  is  the  nodal  age implement the Scheme.

Further,  to  create  jobs  and  promote  entrepreneurship,  a  new  scheme  "Stand - Up  India"  has  been started to provide credit facilities to SC, ST and women entrepreneurs. The fund will stand guaran 10.00 lakh to Rs. 1.00 crore loans to be provided to SC/ST/Women entrepreneurs.

More so, the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd. (MUDRA), is a new institutio up by Government to provide funding to the non - corporate , non - farm sector income generating activities of micro and small enterpri ses, whose credit needs are below 10.00 lakhs