Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Jual Oram on Friday promised that the Centre would consider hike in loan limit under Mudra Yojana from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
Inaugurating a one-day conclave on tribal entrepreneurship here, Mr. Oram said he would place the demand for loan hike before the government. Earlier, representatives of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for replication of the State government’s initiatives across the States.
They said Telangana’s initiatives, including helping secure low-interest loans, helping sewerage workers turn entrepreneurs and, more recently, introducing reservation in civil contracts, had helped members of the Scheduled Tribes turn entrepreneurs.
Responding to their plea, Mr. Oram said “while reservations are advantageous, disparity is not. Often, it prevents recognition of the skill and talent of businessmen from the SC and ST communities”.
The conclave was attended by over 1,000 ST entrepreneurs. DICCI boasts of affiliation of over 10,000 entrepreneurs from Scheduled Tribes. Some of them shared their experiences with the gathering.
State’s Finance Minister Eatala Rajender assured the industry body of the Telangana government’s support while Tribal Welfare Minister Ajmeera Chandulal promised greater support to tribal business.
DICCI chairman Milind Kamble said under the Startup India programme, the body aimed to create 1.5 lakh SC and ST entrepreneurs in the next three years.
