MAHABIR PRASAD LAUNCHES RAJIV GANDHI UDYAMI MITRA YOJANA

Shri Mahabir Prasad, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises launched Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana here today in New Delhi on February 7, 2008.  The scheme aims to provide handholding assistance to first generation entrepreneurs through lead agencies or Udyami Mitra, who shall provide guidance to the potential entrepreneurs and help them in completion of various tasks and formalities necessary for the establishment of the enterprise.

Launching the scheme, the Minister said that the Ministry was running many schemes for development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, under which entrepreneurship and skill development training programmes were organised and technical assistance, marketing assistance and financial assistance were being provided.  He said, our further endeavour should be that new enterprises established under these schemes run successfully and play meaningful role in economic development and prosperity of the country.  The Minister said, "the youth population of our country was maximum in the world today.  If we can give employment to this young labour force of ours, none can stop India from becoming a superpower in the world.  For this purpose we need to train the youth thereby converting them into entrepreneurs." He further stated, "we can generate employment opportunities in every part of the country as well as achieve inclusive growth, taking along all sections of the society only through micro and small enterprises. This is our main aim in the 11th Five Year Plan."

Under the newly launched Rajiv Gandh Udyami Mitra Yojana, the selected lead agencies i.e. Udyami Mitras would provide guidance and assistance to the potential entrepreneurs registered with them, in preparation of project report, arranging finance, selection of technology, marketing tie-ups with buyers, installation of plant and machinery as well as obtaining various approvals, clearances and NOCs etc.  Udyami Mitras are expected to be the friend, philosopher and guide of the new entrepreneurs, assisting them in the establishment and successful running of the enterprise.  For providing this handholding assistance to the new entrepreneurs, the Udyami Mitras shall be paid handholding charges under the scheme, including nominal contribution of the concerned entrepreneur.  However, the beneficiaries belonging to SC/ST/physically handicapped/women and beneficiaries from North Eastern Region will not be required to pay any contribution for the establishment of service enterprises of micro manufacturing enterprise.

The scheme is expected to fill a critical void between the entrepreneurship development training and the actual establishment of enterprises, as even after undergoing the EDP training, the entrepreneurs face difficulties in availing full benefits under various schemes and complying with various formalities. Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana is expected to provide an integrated and end-to-end support for creation of new micro and small enterprises.

The launch of the scheme was followed by a National Workshop on the modalities of the scheme which was attended by representatives of various State Governments, industry associations and other organizations involved in the training as well as promotion and development of industries.