New Delhi: The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) held a National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Conclave in Moga, Punjab Friday to encourage entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The event saw the participation of around 700 aspiring and existing SC/ST entrepreneurs and aimed to raise awareness about the NSSH Scheme and other MSME initiatives, a PIB press release stated.
The conclave featured prominent figures from government and industry, including Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, M/o MSME; Dr. Manjeet Bhatoya, Dy. Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; and Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, CMD, NSIC. Dr. Acharya highlighted the government’s Public Procurement Policy, which mandates 4% of public procurement from SC/ST enterprises and 3% from women enterprises. He emphasized the NSSH Scheme’s role in creating an ecosystem to support SC/ST entrepreneurs in achieving this target.
Ms. Epao highlighted the importance of the MSME sector in the Indian economy, contributing nearly 30% to GDP and 45% to exports. She encouraged participants to consider entrepreneurship and explore the government’s various support schemes, including the recently launched ‘Yashawini’ initiative for women-led development. The conclave also featured presentations on various schemes, such as the PM Vishwakarma Scheme for artisans and craftspeople, PMEGP, Udyam Registration, and initiatives by the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) in Punjab.
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) like GAIL, BHEL, and ESIC outlined their vendor empanelment processes and shared details about products and services they procure from SC/ST-owned MSMEs. Financial institutions such as SIDBI, Punjab & Sind Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank participated in the event, detailing their lending schemes for MSMEs. Other government bodies like GeM, KVIC, NSFDC, NSTFDC, TRIFED, IFCI Venture Capital, and NVCFL also provided information about their programs.