Telangana extends hand to dalit entrepreneurs
HYDERABAD: The state government will provide one acre of land in Hyderabad and Rs 5 crore financial assistance for setting up of a Dalit entrepreneur incubation centre.
The state government had also decided to set aside Rs 5 crore for a scheme under which margin money assistance will be extended to enthusiastic Dalit entrepreneurs. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced this in response to a demand from the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) here on Friday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day industrial and trade expo of DICCI here, he also said that 22 percent of industrial land in the state would be reserved for SC,ST entrepreneurs.
Not just the financial assistance, the chief minister also announced a new scheme where 200 selected contractors from Dalit community will be provided free training at the National Academy of Construction (NAC) to develop business skills. The government will also sanction projects to encourage them, Rao added.
The DICCI found the Telangana's new industrial policy extremely Dalit-friendly and its members came forward to invest in the state. However many of the members of the DICCI from other states felt that the industrial policy is restricted only for local firms. Responding to their grievances Rao said, the state government will not show any difference between Dalit entrepreneurs from Telangana and other states.
'There are no restrictions for DICCI members. Once the application process is over, we will give clearances within 45 days to all the companies who want to invest in Telangana ,' Rao said.
Union commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitaraman, who inaugurated the new online portal of DICCI at the expo, said that four percent of the total 20 percent procurement for SMEs will be allotted for Dalit entrepreneurs. She said, the policy will come into force from April 1. Further she promised that the Union government will make sure that DICCI is included in all the national industrial conferences as well.
Dalit entrepreneurs, who are in the manufacturing sector, exhibited their products at the expo. Over 1,000 delegates from 16 states including Telangana and AP attended. Milind Kamble, chairman of the DICCI, said the organisation is aiming at producing 200 successful entrepreneurs in the next five years.
News Posted: 14 February, 2015
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