Ministry of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing a scheme  of  National Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (SC/ST) Hub. The National SC-ST Hub was formally launched by the Prime Minister on 18.10.2016 at Ludhiana, Punjab. The Hub is set up to provide professional support to SC/ST entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage the Stand Up India initiatives. The functions of Hub include collection, collation and dissemination of information regarding SC/ST enterprises and entrepreneurs, capacity building among existing and prospective SC/ST entrepreneurs through skill training and EDPs, vendor development involving CPSEs, NSIC, MSME-DIs and industry associations including Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI), promoting participation of SC/ST entrepreneurs in exhibitions and organizing special exhibitions for this purpose, facilitating SC/ST entrepreneurs participating in public procurement and monitoring the progress, etc. Four special subsidy schemes/programmes have been approved under National SC/ST Hub namely (i) Single Point Registration Scheme (ii) Special Marketing Assistance Scheme (SMAS) (iii) Performance & Credit Rating Scheme and (iv) Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme.
 
 
     The Hub has conducted 37 Special Vendor Development Programmes(VDPs) in which 1447 SC/ST MSMEs participated. Under Special Marketing Scheme, Hub has facilitated the participation of 416 SC/ST MSMEs in 42 domestic exhibitions, 32 MSMEs in 8 international exhibitions and arranged the visit of 40 MSMEs in 4 International Exhibitions. Training programme for capacity building of SC/ST entrepreneurs are also being conducted through select premium academic institutions.

          The total estimated budget for the SC/ST Hub Scheme is Rs.490.00 crore for the period 2016-17 to 2019-20.     Rs.4.532 crore was the expenditure in 2016-17 under SC/ST Hub Scheme.
   This Ministry is implementing a number of schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs) across  India including Chhattisgarh like  National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme(NMCP), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme(PMEGP), schemes for Khadi & Village Industries and Coir, International Cooperation Scheme, Performance and Credit Rating Scheme(PCRS), Marketing Assistance and Technology Upgradation(MATU) schemes, Scheme for Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises etc. Benefits under these schemes are available to all eligible MSMEs including those belonging to SC and ST entrepreneurs of Chhattisgarh.
 
          In addition to the schemes implemented by this Ministry, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is also implementing schemes for SC entrepreneurs including the Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes(CEGSSC)  and Venture Capital Fund scheme for micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.  Under Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes, one SC beneficiary viz. Steeledge Pipes and Scaffold Pvt. Ltd. in Chhattisgarh has been sanctioned Rs.383.00 lakh for manufacturing of steel pipes.  Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing schemes for self-employment of Scheduled Tribes including term loan scheme and micro credit scheme for self-help groups.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State for        MSME Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 05.04.2017 (Wednesday).

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AK/RM