Dalit entrepreneurs have sought encouragement from the government and necessary modifications in the existing policies in addition to launching new initiatives to help them participate in industrial growth.
A seminar on ‘Industry, Commerce and Contracts in Special Component Plan for SC/STs’ was organised by DICCI (Dalit India Chamber of Commerce and Industry) here on Monday.
DICCI national president Milind Kamble said financial inclusion of the Dalits is only possible when they are made to stand on their own feet rather than constantly depend on the government.
“We are part of society and have been its service providers for eons. Our contribution had to be recognised and government as well as industrialists have to treat us as partners,” he said.
Some of the important proposals put forth before the government were establishment of industrial co-op bank for extending financial assistance for SC/ST entrepreneurs, establishment of a dalit credit guarantee trust on the lines of Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) of the central government, establishment of special industrial parks including IT/ITES for Dalits, depositing of Rs 100 crore in DICCI venture capital with a condition to extend financial assistance to SC/ST entrepreneurs in the state.