The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through its Economic Inclusion Division (EID), is strengthening entrepreneurship, livelihood generation and rehabilitation support for marginalised communities.

Its major initiatives include the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC), the Venture Capital Fund for Backward Classes and the comprehensive rehabilitation component for persons engaged in begging under the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise Scheme.

Deputy Director General, Economic Inclusion Division (EID), in the Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment, Ms Pratima Gupta informed that under the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) with a total corpus of Rs 750 crore, the Fund provides financial assistance ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 crore at an interest rate of 4 per cent.

She said from FY 2014-15 to FY 2025-26, the Fund has played an important role in enabling Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs to establish businesses, create productive assets and generate employment.

DDG EID further said that as of May 2026, the financial assistance of Rs 613.02 crore had been approved for 145 companies under the fund. Of this, Rs 437.74 crore had been disbursed to 123 companies, she added.

Ms Gupta said VCF-SC aims to promote entrepreneurship among members of Scheduled Caste communities by providing concessional financial assistance for establishing and expanding commercially viable enterprises.

The DDG EID said under VCF-SC, the Ministry launched the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) on September 30, 2020 that supports innovative ideas developed by young Scheduled Caste researchers and students by providing financial assistance of up to Rs 30 lakh.

She added that under ASIIM, an amount of Rs 29.11 crore has been sanctioned to 114 companies, while Rs 13.27 crore has been disbursed to 91 companies wherein the Mission seeks to encourage technology-driven and socially relevant enterprises while developing an ecosystem of innovation among young entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Caste communities.

Talking about the Venture Capital Fund for Backward Classes (VCF-BC), the DDG EID said it was launched in October 2019 to promote entrepreneurship among individuals belonging to Backward Classes. With a corpus of Rs 200 crore, the fund provides financial assistance ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 15 crore at an interest rate of 6 per cent, she further said.

Ms Gupta said financial assistance of Rs 142.88 crore has been approved for 31 companies, of which Rs 70.23 crore has been disbursed to 19 companies, as of now.

The DDG EID said Venture Capital Funds have supported 329 Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs and 35 entrepreneurs belonging to Backward Classes adding these investments have collectively generated around 4,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

She said the enterprises supported through these Funds have created permanent productive assets valued at nearly Rs 800 crores that are expected to contribute to economic activity, infrastructure development and employment generation over the next 12 to 15 years.

Ms Pratima further said as part of implementing the comprehensive rehabilitation component for persons engaged in begging under the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme, the Ministry follows a comprehensive approach encompassing identification, mobilisation, rescue, shelter, counselling, healthcare, education, skill development, livelihood support and reintegration of persons engaged in begging.

The DDG EID said from the launch of the initiative on October 23, 2023 through FY 2025-26, the central assistance amounting to Rs 46.16 crore was released. Of this, an amount of Rs 27.17 crore was released during FY 2025-26 alone, she added.

Ms Pratima said through these initiatives, the Economic Inclusion Division is advancing the Government's commitment to social justice by enabling entrepreneurship, supporting enterprise creation, generating employment and facilitating the dignified rehabilitation and economic inclusion of marginalised communities.

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PR-132- TAR/KV/GA/RK

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