National SC-ST Hub Conclave Promotes Entrepreneurship Among SC/ST Communities in Punjab

Moga, Punjab: The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, today organized the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Conclave in Moga, Punjab, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. The event, which saw the participation of around 700 aspiring and existing SC/ST entrepreneurs, aimed to spread awareness about the NSSH Scheme and other initiatives under the Ministry of MSME.

Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, addressed the gathering and emphasized the critical role that the MSME sector plays in India’s economy. She pointed out that the sector contributes nearly 30% to India’s GDP and 45% to the country’s exports, employing over 22.28 crore people across 5.21 crore Udyam-registered units. She encouraged participants to embrace entrepreneurship as a profession, urging them to move from being consumers to becoming producers. Ms. Epao also highlighted the Government’s ‘Yashawini’ initiative, which aims to promote women-led development through entrepreneurship, creating opportunities for women to become self-reliant business leaders.

Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, Chairman and Managing Director of the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), opened the event by briefing participants on the Public Procurement Policy of the Government of India. He explained that the policy mandates 4% of public procurement from SC/ST enterprises and 3% from women-owned enterprises, emphasizing the importance of inclusive growth. Dr. Acharya further elaborated on the various initiatives under the National SC-ST Hub Scheme, designed to help SC/ST entrepreneurs participate in public procurement and reach the 4% mandate.

The conclave featured presentations from Ishita Thaman, Deputy Director, Office of the Development Commissioner-MSME, who introduced the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The scheme is designed to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople from 18 traditional trades, helping them become entrepreneurs and self-reliant. Information on key programs like the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and Udyam Registration was also provided to participants.

S.P. Angra, Additional CEO, State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM), Punjab, spoke on the various initiatives in place for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under SRLM, aiming to empower rural women and SC/ST communities.

A special technical session featured presentations from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) like GAIL, BHEL, ESIC, and NFL, which provided aspiring SC/ST entrepreneurs with insights into their vendor empanelment processes and opportunities for procurement from SC/ST-owned Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs).

The conclave also included participation from financial institutions such as SIDBI, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Punjab Gramin Bank, which detailed various lending schemes available to MSMEs. Government bodies like GeM, KVIC, NSFDC, NSTFDC, TRIFED, and IFCI Venture Capital participated to share information on their schemes supporting SC/ST entrepreneurs.

To provide on-the-spot assistance, the event featured facilitation desks for the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and Udyam Registration, helping SC/ST entrepreneurs register and access government benefits.