Parliament Question: Implementation of NEEDS

Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4367 To be answered on Thursday, April 02, 2026/ 12 Chaitra, 1948 (Saka) Implementation of NEEDS

4367. Smt. Ranjeet Ranjan:

Will the Minister of Development of North Eastern Region be pleased to state:

(a) the details of budgetary allocations made and utilised under the North East Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS) since its inception, year-wise;

(b) the number of enterprises and projects financed through NEEDS in each State of the North Eastern Region, sector-wise and year-wise;

(c) whether Government has laid down implementation milestones or progress indicators to evaluate the impact of NEEDS and if so, the status of those benchmarks during 2025-26; and

(d) whether any independent review or audit has been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of NEEDS in catalysing entrepreneurship, job creation and sustainable development in the region and if so, the key findings thereof? ANSWER The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]

(a) The total budgetary allocation under the North East Enterprise Development Scheme

(NEEDS) is ₹300.00 crore, while the actual utilization as on 28.02.2026 stands at ₹645.48 crore.

The year-wise details of funds received and disbursed are given below: (Rs. in Crore) Year Fund Received Fund Disbursed 2021-22 40.00 82.55 2022-23 50.00 129.42 2023-24 60.00 126.252024-25 70.00 168.19 2025-26 80.00 139.07 Total 300.00 645.48

(b) The State-wise number of enterprises/projects financed and the total fund disbursement under the North East Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS) during 2021–22 to 2025–26 (up to February 28, 2026) are at Annexure- I.

(c) The scheme is implemented through North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. in consultation with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. MDoNER signs an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)anually with NEDFi specifying various implementation milestones which include State-wise utilization of funds, promotion of entrepreneurship in the North Eastern Region through organization of Business Meets across all eight State, conduct of capacity-building programmes for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)/ (Non-profit organizations) NGOs, and provision of concessional finance to entrepreneurs. Also NITI Aayog monitors the progress of the schemes through Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF). The targets of NEEDS under OOMF for FY 2025-26 are at Annexure-II.

(d) Yes. The NEED scheme was evaluated by Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. The key findings are given below. • The scheme effectively targeted Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and microfinance projects aligned with state priorities.

• It successfully reached first-generation entrepreneurs and socially vulnerable groups, including women, SC, ST, OBC, and differently abled beneficiaries, while promoting entrepreneurship in remote areas.

• A majority of beneficiaries effectively utilized the support provided, channelling it towards their intended projects. • More than 95% of respondents reported satisfaction with fund utilization, capacity- building programs, and support services.

• Capacity-building initiatives in financial literacy, business management, and livelihood skills have strengthened the sustainability of supported enterprises.Annexure I (Rs. In Cr.) State-wise Projects 2025-26 Assisted and 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 (upto February Fund

2026) Disburseme nt Nu Nu Nu Nu Nu mbe Fund mbe Fund mbe Fund mbe Fund mbe Fund r of Disbur r of Disbur r of Disbur r of Disbur r of Disbursem State Proj sement Proj sement Proj sement Proj sement Proj ent (Rs.

ects (Rs. ects (Rs. ects (Rs. ects (Rs. ects Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi sted sted sted sted sted Arunachal 53 6.53 80 12.54 106 13.42 100 9.4 93 11.13 Pradesh Assam 159 24.95 264 38.28 228 36.34 152 57.53 103 50.68 Manipur 78 10.11 103 8.69 78 6.58 72 20.21 45 25.13 Meghalaya 16 2.43 42 9.91 49 6.8 41 10.74 7 5.38 Mizoram 119 8.75 171 17.69 211 21.84 219 25.33 178 19.64 Nagaland 115 8.59 132 11.89 126 13.78 131 16.61 76 9.46 Sikkim 139 10.32 168 11 131 9.57 170 13.21 122 7.12 Tripura 173 10.87 184 19.43 212 17.92 182 15.16 119 10.53 114 114 106 Total 852 82.55 129.42 126.25 168.19 743 139.07 4 1 7Annexure II OOMF Targets and Achievements under North East Enterprises Development Scheme (NEEDS) during FY 2025-26 (up to 28.03.2026):

Financia Outputs 2025-26 Outcomes 2025-26 l Outlay Targets Achieve Indicator Targets Achievem 2025-26 Output Indicators Outcome 2025-26 ments s 2025-26 ents

1.1. No. of MSMEs and MFIs 1.1 Total 400 655

provided loans by number of NEDFi employme

1.2 No. of MSMEs nt and MFIs provided 400 400 generated 8000 15305 loans by MDoNER in

1.3 Loans supported extended to MFIs MSMEs/

10.00 5.1

1. by NEDFi (in Rs MFI Provision crore) of formal 1.4 Loans

1.2 Total credit to extended to MFIs 1.

10.00 8.50 number of MSMEs by MDoNER (in Promotion entreprene and MFIs Rs crore) of urs 588 1889

80.00 1.5 Loans entrepreneu created in extended to rship and

70.00 72.85 the last ½ MSMEs by NEDFi MSMEs in years (in Rs crore) NE states

1.6 Loans extended to 1.3 MSMEs by 70.00 70.00 Repaymen 95.0% 96.9% MDoNER (in Rs t rate (%) crore)

2.

Handhold 2.1. No. of

2. No. of ing participants in Participant support to capacity building 610 1140 610 1140 s to be MFIs and events and trained entrepren awareness camps eurs *****