Parliament Question: NEEDS

Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4261 To be answered on Wednesday, March 18, 2026/ Phalguna 27, 1947 (Saka) NEEDS

4261. Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to

state:

(a) the total budgetary allocation and actual utilisation under the North East Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS) since its inception, year-wise;

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

(c) whether the Government has laid down implementation milestones or progress indicators to evaluate the impact of NEEDS, if so, the status of those benchmarks as of 2025-26 thereof; 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 is 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) Yes. The scheme is implemented through North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. under the guidance of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. MDoNER signs an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 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 States, 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 as 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 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 (upto February and Fund

2026) Disbursem ent Num Num Num Num Num ber Fund ber Fund ber Fund ber Fund ber Fund of Disburs of Disburs of Disburs of Disburs of Disburs State Proje ement Proje ement Proje ement Proje ement Proje ement cts (Rs. cts (Rs. cts (Rs. cts (Rs. cts (Rs.

Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) Assi Crore) 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 Total 852 82.55 1144 129.42 1141 126.25 1067 168.19 743 139.07Annexure-II OOMF Targets under North East Enterprises Development Scheme (NEEDS) during FY 2025-26:

Finan cial Outcomes 2025-26 Outlay Targets Indicator Targets 2025-26 Output Indicators Outcome 2025-26 s 2025-26

1.1. No. of MSMEs and MFIs provided 400 loans by NEDFi

1.2 No. of MSMEs and 8000 MFIs provided 400 loans by MDoNER

1.3 Loans extended to

10.00 MFIs by NEDFi

1. Provision of (in Rs crore) formal credit to

1.4 Loans MSMEs and 1. Promotion extended to 1.2 Total MFIs of MFIs by 10.00 number entrepreneur

80.00 MDoNER (in of ship and Rs crore) entrepren MSMEs in 588

1.5 Loans eurs NE states extended to created in MSMEs by 70.00 the last ½ NEDFi (in Rs years crore)

1.6 Loans

1.3 extended to Repayme MSMEs by 70.00 95.0% nt rate MDoNER (in (%) Rs crore)

2.1. No. of

2. Handholding participants in 2. No. of support to capacity Participa 610 610 MFIs and building events nts to be entrepreneurs and awareness trained camps *****