LUDHIANA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the national SC/ST hub for entrepreneurs of the community in Ludhiana, last week. Initiating the hub at the national MSME award distribution function at the Punjab Agriculture University, Modi said his "head hangs in shame" over incidents of atrocities on dalits that take place after 70 years of independence.
The hub aims to provide tech knowhow to the mentioned categories and increase procurement by public and government units from SC/ST industrial units from existing 0.4 per cent to 4 per cent. Modi informed a database of Dalit industrials is being made. He said, "I attended the function of Dalit chamber and met over 1000 Dalit industrialists. A number of them had a turnover of more than Rs 500 Crore while 300 Dalit women were doing business of more than 100 Crore. Our hub aims at making more entrepreneurs from Dalits and tribals so that they become job-givers rather than job-seekers."
The PM also asked 1.25 lakh nationalised bank branches to give loans to SC/ST men and women entrepreneurs and said if two loans each, one for men and one for women, banks can give up to 3.75 lakh loans and help the community become self-dependent. Present at the function were Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Minister Kalraj Mishra, Minister of State Giriraj, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla. Over 227 industrialists were given the national MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) awards in different categories.
