The National SC-ST Hub State Conclave on Friday witnessed drama, when Micro and Small Enterprise Director P.G.S. Rao, in the presence of Telangana ministers, said that the state had failed to respond to his requests for information.
Due to this, funds for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurship schemes could not be released, he said.
Of the 20% procurements from micro, medium and small enterprises, four percent should be from SC and ST entrepreneurs, he said. “I wrote letters to the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, asking them to send the nodal agency details, so that money can be given. But they have not responded for two months,” Mr. Rao said.
He also pointed out the low procurement rate for SC and ST entrepreneurs across the country.
The well attended conclave drew a sharp response from a section of the participants, who raised slogans of disapproval of the states' alleged inaction.
Responding to Mr. Rao's comments, SC Development and Energy Minister G. Jagadish Reddy said that all procurements for residential schools in the state have been from SC entrepreneurs.
He also said that the Telangana government has supported over 3,000 SC entrepreneurs by spending ₹402 crore in subsidies. Mr. Reddy opined that while entrepreneurship in the state is low, it is quickly gaining ground.
He suggested that Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) should state their requirements. This, he said, would help entrepreneurs. Mr. Reddy encouraged the 'positivity' of such conclaves.
Later in the day, an interaction between PSU officials and entrepreneurs was organised, in which problems pertaining to funding enterprises and their solutions were discussed.
ST Development Minister Azmeera Chandulal and office bearers of the Dalit Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Tribal Chambers of Commerce and Industry, among others, also spoke.
