Government is implementing many schemes for the overall development of the micro and small enterprises

The micro and small enterprises are set up by the individual entrepreneurs. Government does not provide any direct assistance to the entrepreneurs for setting up of units. However, the Government is implementing many schemes for the overall development of the micro and small enterprises which are implemented all over the country. Nevertheless, wherever feasible, the Government makes specific allocations and assigns specific targets for assisting the disadvantaged groups of society, notably those belonging to minority communities. Government does not maintain the number of beneficiaries for certain schemes state wise since the schemes are demand driven and are not based on the state wise allocation of resources. The people belonging to Minority Communities however are also benefited under some schemes.

Under the scheme of Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme / Entrepreneurship Development Programme/Management Development Programme 5028 and 3849 persons belonging to the minority communities were trained during 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively.

Under the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme 1419 and 4064 entrepreneurs belonging to minority communities were benefited during the year 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively. No. separate provision for Minorities has been made in the budget estimates for the financial year 2009-10.

This information was given by Shri Dinsha Patel, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.