New Delhi: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that a collective, coordinated action is needed to strengthen the eco-system for promoting SC & ST Entrepreneurs in the country. As Chief Guest of the occasion, he was addressing the National SC-ST Hub Confluence organized by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, the Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (I/C), Shri Giriraj Singh, the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The Vice President said that skill up gradation is one area that requires top attention for the overall development of SC/ST entrepreneurs. He congratulated the National SC/ST Hub for signing MoUs with Sector Skill Councils to skill over 2,000 entrepreneurs and said that the associations and incubators have a huge role to play in supporting the objectives of National SC/ST Hub. Each association must extend support in building capacities and mentoring entrepreneurs in its respective sector, he added.
The session also focused on future action plan along with role to be played by each stakeholder to achieve the objectives of the hub.
In addition, MOUs were signed with 3 Sector Skill Councils to provide skill development training of SC-ST Entrepreneurs under capacity building initiatives of NSSH.
The Vice President while referring to the national discourse, Stand-up, Start-up, Incubation, Innovation said that this should get further momentum and tempo. He further said that Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Clean India – all these programmes should reach every section and everybody must get their due. Capacity building is important; credit availability is important, technology up-gradation is also important, he added.
Shri. Giriraj Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of MSME thanked everyone for their presence and mentioned that if SC ST entrepreneurs can get orders worth Rs. 5,000 crores, it will go a long way in helping such entrepreneurs. He mentioned that the day the job seeker becomes a job giver, dreams of everyone shall be accomplished.
Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, Secretary, Ministry of MSME highlighted that the programme was a medium to build bridges therefore connecting everyone and bringing everyone on a common platform. A brief presentation was given by Joint Secretary, SME, on the initiatives undertaken by the hub, highlighting the progress till date.
Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Ministry of Finance, mentioned that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is the genesis of the idea of inclusivity. He also promised his Ministry’s full support to the Ministry of MSME to enable entrepreneurism amongst the SC ST community.
Shri Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs stated that he was glad that the Government has taken an initiative as unique as NSSH to uplift the ST community of the country.
Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment mentioned that all MSMEs face challenges in marketing their products due to competition from large enterprises which is why the Public Procurement Policy is a welcome step.
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