Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment supports SC entrepreneurs through schemes like VCFSC, ASIIM, and NSFDC. These initiatives provide financial assistance, mentoring, and training. Awareness campaigns are conducted nationwide, including in Andhra Pradesh and the Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency, to promote these schemes. Details on beneficiaries and funds are in Annexures I, II, and III.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCFSC):**
* Provides financial assistance from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 crore at a concessional interest rate.
* Facilitates establishment, expansion, and diversification of SC-owned businesses.
* **Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM):**
* Supports SC students and youth in innovation and entrepreneurship.
* Offers financial support up to ₹30 lakh to individuals working with recognized incubators.
* Launched in September 2020.
* **National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC):**
* Provides concessional loans to SC individuals with family income up to ₹3.00 lakh.
* Promotes self-employment and scaling up of small businesses.
* Implemented through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Public Sector Banks (PSBs), and NBFCMFIs.
* **Awareness and Outreach Initiatives:**
* IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd. and NSFDC conduct nationwide awareness programs.
* Includes webinars, partnerships, social media campaigns, advertisements, and participation in exhibitions.
* IFCI Venture Capital Fund Ltd. facilitated 245 mentoring sessions, with 99 completed.
* NSFDC supports SC entrepreneurs by conducting awareness camps and providing free stalls in exhibitions.
Impact Analysis:
* **SC Entrepreneurs:**
* Impact: Benefit from financial assistance, training, and mentoring to establish and grow businesses.
* Action Required: Utilize available schemes, participate in training programs, and engage with mentoring opportunities.
* **IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd. and NSFDC:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and promoting the schemes.
* Action Required: Conduct awareness campaigns, provide training and mentoring, and disburse funds effectively.
* **State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Public Sector Banks (PSBs), and NBFCMFIs:**
* Impact: Involved in the implementation of NSFDC schemes.
* Action Required: Facilitate the disbursement of concessional loans and support SC entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC).
SC communities: Refers to Scheduled Castes, a group of historically disadvantaged communities in India recognized by the Constitution.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of beneficiaries and training programs.
Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh, India, specifically mentioned in the context of beneficiaries and training programs.
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes VCFSC: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd., providing financial assistance to SC entrepreneurs.
IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd.: The organization implementing the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCFSC) scheme.
Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission ASIIM: A scheme launched in September 2020 to support SC students and youth engaged in innovation and entrepreneurship.
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation NSFDC: An organization providing concessional loans to SC individuals for income-generating activities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.436
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
SUPPORT FOR ENTREPRENEURS BELONGING TO SC COMMUNITIES
436. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the list of schemes introduced, in effect and presently functioning under the
Central Government for supporting young entrepreneurs belonging to SC communities in the
country;
(b) the details and the total number of beneficiaries and total fund allocated and utilised for such
schemes during the last five years, scheme-wise, State-wise, district-wise including Andhra
Pradesh and in Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency;
(c) the details regarding the various training initiatives and mentoring programmes carried out by
the Govemment for young entrepreneurs belonging to SC communities under this scheme during
such period State and district-wise including Andhra Pradesh and especially in Bapatla Lok
Sabha Constituency; and
(d) whether the Government has undertaken any activities/campaigns to raise awareness of such
schemes/programs that the Government has introduced for the benefit of less young
entrepreneurs belonging to SC communities, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(DR. VTRENDRA KUMAR)
(a): To promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment has launched targeted initiatives to support and empower SC
entrepreneurs nationwide.
l.
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC): Implemented by the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment through IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd., this
scheme provides financial assistance ranging from {10 lakh to <15 crore at a
concessional interest rate of 4%. lt is aimed at facilitating the establishment, expansion,
and diversification of SC-owned businesses across various sectors.2. Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM): Launched in
September 2020, ASIIM supports SC students and youth engaged in innovation and
entrepreneurship. The scheme offers financial support of up to {30 lakh to individuals
working with recognized incubators, enabling them to convert innovative ideas into
commercially viable start-ups.
J. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC):
NSFDC provides concessional loans to SC individuals with an annual family income of
up to {3.00 lakh for income-generating activities. The objective is to promote self-
employment and enable young SC entrepreneurs to scale up small businesses into
sustainable and profitable ventures. These schemes are implemented nationwide through
a network of State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Public
Sector Banks (PSBs), and NBFC-MFIs under formal agreements with NSFDC.
(b): The details pertaining to VCF-SC, ASIIM, and NSFDC are provided in Annexure-I,
Annexure-Il, and Annexure-Ill, respectively.
(c) & (d): To promote entrepreneurship among SC communities, IFCI Venture Capital Funds
Ltd. and NSFDC are actively implementing pan-lndia awareness and outreach
initiatives. The Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) and the Ambedkar Social
Innovation & Incubation Mission (ASIIM) are implemented nationwide. Accordingly, training
initiatives and mentoring programmes under these schemes are conducted across the country-
including in Andhra Pradesh and the Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency-to promote and
propagate these schemes among SC entrepreneurs.
IFCI Venture Capital Fund promotes these schemes through regular webinars, partnerships (e.g.,
with Startup Tamil Nadu), and collaborations with Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and
industry bodies such as CII, DICCI, and Startup India. In FY 2024-25, over 30 webinars were
conducted, and outreach efforts include social media campaigns, regional language
advertisements, vernacular brochures, and mass email communication. Under VCF-SC and
ASIIM, IFCI Venture Capital Fund Ltd. has facilitated24S mentoring sessions, of which 99have
been completed.
NSFDC supports SC entrepreneurs by conducting awareness camps across states, including
remote areas, through its Channelizing Agencies. It also actively participates in major exhibitions
and fairs such as IITF, Surajkund Mela, and Shilp Sama1am, providing free stalls to SC
beneficiaries and also undertakes IEC activities to raise awareness.
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