Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) promotes entrepreneurship among minority communities through various schemes. These initiatives include skill development programs converged into Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), Hunar Haat, Lok Samvardhan Parv, and concessional loans via the National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC). The document provides data on scheme beneficiaries, loan disbursements, impact studies, and fund allocations from FY 2020-21 to 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Schemes and Initiatives:**
* Skill development schemes (Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Nai Roshni, Nai Manzil) trained over 10 lakh beneficiaries nationally, including over 12,000 in Tamil Nadu.
* These schemes have been integrated into Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), focusing on entrepreneurship among women from minority communities.
* Hunar Haat and Lok Samvardhan Parv promote entrepreneurship among traditional artisans. 41 Hunar Haats and 4 Lok Samvardhan Parvs have been organized since 2015.
* **NMDFC Concessional Loans (Tamil Nadu):**
* Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation (TAMCO) disbursed concessional loans under NMDFC schemes.
* Disbursements from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25 totaled INR 237.58 crores, benefiting 51,097 individuals.
* FY 2020-21: INR 18.00 crores disbursed to 6910 beneficiaries
FY 2021-22: INR 49.13 crores disbursed to 6034 beneficiaries
FY 2022-23: INR 55.25 crores disbursed to 8785 beneficiaries
FY 2023-24: INR 50.82 crores disbursed to 10201 beneficiaries
FY 2024-25: INR 64.38 crores disbursed to 19167 beneficiaries
FY 2025-26: To be disbursed.
* **NMDFC Impact Study Findings:**
* Term Loans: Increased female loan recipients, average income, savings, and improvements in education, social status and health. Loan process was satisfactory.
* Microfinance Loans: Increased average income and savings, improvements in education, social status and health. The application process was simple.
* Education Loans: More loans were granted to females, primarily in rural areas, mostly for Bachelor's degrees, with high employment rates post-graduation.
* **Government of India Fund Allocation to NMDFC:**
* Funds allocated for equity contribution in NMDFC concessional loans.
* No matching grants from State Governments are specified under NMDFC schemes.
* NMDFC delegates authority for loan sanction, disbursement, and recovery to State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs).
* FY 2020-21: INR 110.00 crores allocated, INR 650.41 crores concessional credit approved.
* FY 2021-22: INR 100.00 crores allocated, INR 700.00 crores concessional credit approved.
* FY 2022-23: INR 159.00 crores allocated, INR 881.70 crores concessional credit approved.
* FY 2023-24: INR 61.00 crores allocated, INR 765.45 crores concessional credit approved.
* FY 2024-25: NIL allocated, INR 860.44 crores concessional credit approved.
* FY 2025-26: NIL allocated, INR 48.40 crores concessional credit approved as on 30.06.2025.
Impact Analysis:
* **Minority Communities:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from skill development, entrepreneurship opportunities, and access to concessional loans for self-employment and income generation. Improved socio-economic status, education, and health.
* *Action Required:* Participate in available schemes and utilize financial assistance for entrepreneurial ventures.
* **Traditional Artisans:**
* *Impact:* Provided platforms like Hunar Haat and Lok Samvardhan Parv to showcase and market their products, promoting entrepreneurship.
* *Action Required:* Engage with Hunar Haat and Lok Samvardhan Parv to display and sell their products.
* **Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation (TAMCO):**
* *Impact:* Acts as a channel for disbursing concessional loans under NMDFC schemes in Tamil Nadu.
* *Action Required:* Continue disbursing loans effectively and efficiently to eligible beneficiaries.
* **State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for sanction, disbursement, and recovery of concessional credit released by NMDFC.
* *Action Required:* Manage the loan process effectively, ensuring proper disbursement and recovery of funds.
* **National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC):**
* *Impact:* Oversees and provides concessional loans, monitors the impact of schemes, and delegates authority to SCAs.
* *Action Required:* Continue providing financial assistance, conduct impact studies, and ensure effective scheme implementation through SCAs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs concerning minority communities.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where specific schemes and initiatives are being implemented and monitored.
Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS): An integrated scheme focusing on promotion of entrepreneurship among women from minority communities.
National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC): A Government of India undertaking that provides concessional loans for self-employment and income generation ventures to minority communities.
Seekho Aur Kamao: A skill development scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Hunar Haat: An initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among traditional artisans through showcasing and marketing their products.
Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation (TAMCO): A State Channelizing Agency (SCA) that disburses concessional loans under NMDFC schemes in Tamil Nadu.
Nai Manzil: A skill development scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.651
ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
SCHEMES FOR MINORITIES TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
651. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of all schemes, initiatives and programmes undertaken by the Ministry of Minority
Affairs to promote entrepreneurship in the country particularly in Tamil Nadu;
(b) the performance data of the above-mentioned initiatives implemented in Tamil Nadu during
the last five years and the current year including key performance indicators such as the number
of beneficiaries, success stories, impact metrics and progress reports; and
(c) the details of Central Government allocations, matching grants sanctioned by the State
Governments, amounts approved, released and actually spent during each of the last five years
and the current year, year, scheme and district-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) and (b): The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) implemented various skill development
schemes namely ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘USTTAD’, ‘Nai Roshni’and ‘Nai Manzil’ for socio-
economic development of youth from minority communities and trained over 10 lakh
beneficiaries in the said schemes across the country, including over 12,000 beneficiaries in Tamil
Nadu. These schemes and initiatives have now been converged into an integrated scheme called
‘Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan’ (PM VIKAS), inter-alia focusing on promotion of
entrepreneurship among women from minority communities.
Ministry initiatives like ‘Hunar Haat’ and ‘Lok Samvardhan Parv’ are aimed at promoting
entrepreneurship among traditional artisans through showcasing and marketing their products.
Since 2015 to till date, 41 ‘Hunar Haats’ and 4 ‘Lok Samvardhan Parvs’ have been organised by
the Ministry across the country.
The National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a Govt. of India
undertaking under the Ministry, provides concessional loans for self-employment income
generation ventures across the country including in the State of Tamil Nadu.The details of
concessional loan disbursed & beneficiaries covered by Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic
Development Corporation (TAMCO) under NMDFC schemes during last five & current year are
as follows:Financial Year Concessional Loan Disbursed by Number of beneficiaries
TAMCO
[Amount in crores(INR)]
2020-21 18.00 6910
2021-22 49.13 6034
2022-23 55.25 8785
2023-24 50.82 10201
2024-25 64.38 19167
2025-26 To be disbursed
Total 237.58 51,097
Further, NMDFC frequently undertakes impact study of its schemes across the country including
in the state of Tamil Nadu by engaging independent third-party agencies. The findings of the
recent impact study report are as follows:
Under Term Loans Scheme:
1. Female loan recipients increased from 31.9% in 2018-19 to 43.7% in 2020-21;
2. Average income increased by 15%; 45% saved a part of the increased income;
3. 41.2% reported improvements in education, social status, and health;
4. 86.4% found the loan process simple or satisfactory.
Under Microfinance Loan Scheme:
1. 67% saw an average income increase of 15.5%;
2. 57% reported savings;
3. 35.3% noted improvements in education, social status, and health;
4. 96% found the application process simple.
Under Education Loan Scheme:
1. More loans were granted to females;
2. 82% of loans were for rural areas;
3. Loans were availed mainly for Bachelor’s degrees with 79% of graduates getting
employed.
(c) The year-wise detail of fund allocated/released by the Government of India for Equity
contribution in NMDFC & concessional loan disbursed by NMDFC through its SCAs, Punjab
Gramin Bank & Canara Bank during the last five years & current year is as follows:F.Y. Fund Allocated/Released by GOI Concessional credit approved,
for Equity Contribution in released, disbursed &utilised by
NMDFC [Amount in crores(INR)] NMDFC [Amount in
crores(INR)]
2020-21 110.00 650.41
2021-22 100.00 700.00
2022-23 159.00 881.70
2023-24 61.00 765.45
2024-25 NIL 860.44
2025-26 (as on NIL 48.40
30.6.25)
Under the schemes of NMDFC, there is no provision ofmatching grants by State Governments.
NMDFC has delegated authority to its State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) for sanction,
disbursement & recovery of concessional credit released by NMDFC to respective SCAs. Thus,
only State wise fund released is maintained by NMDFC.
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