The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is intensifying efforts to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities through the National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) scheme, while also ensuring mandatory public procurement from SC/ST-owned enterprises.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening participation of SC/ST entrepreneurs in the formal economy and meeting the compulsory target of 4 percent public procurement from SC/ST-run micro and small enterprises.
National SC/ST Hub: Building Capacity and Market Access
Under the NSSH scheme, the MSME Ministry has rolled out a range of support measures designed to address both capability gaps and market challenges faced by SC/ST entrepreneurs. These include capacity-building programmes, market linkage initiatives, special vendor development programmes, awareness workshops, and assistance for the purchase of plant, machinery and equipment.
The scheme also provides financial support for registration under the Single Point Registration Scheme, enabling micro and small enterprises to access government tenders more easily. In addition, entrepreneurs are supported in onboarding onto government-run e-commerce portals, helping them expand their digital reach.
Marketing Support Through Exhibitions
A key component of the NSSH scheme is the Special Marketing Assistance Scheme (SMAS), which focuses on improving the ability of SC/ST entrepreneurs to participate in public procurement and competitive markets. Under this component, financial and logistical support is provided for participation in domestic and international exhibitions.
Over the past five years, 3,929 SC/ST entrepreneurs have benefited from assistance to take part in domestic exhibitions, with total support amounting to ₹36.41 crore. Participation in such events helps enterprises showcase products, connect with buyers, and gain exposure to new markets.
Awareness and Outreach Across the Country
To ensure wider awareness of the scheme’s benefits, the MSME Ministry has been organising conferences, special vendor development programmes and awareness workshops across various locations in the country. The outreach strategy also includes active use of social media platforms to reach targeted audiences and maximise participation.
These efforts are intended to ensure that eligible entrepreneurs are informed about available support and can effectively leverage government initiatives to scale their businesses.
Parliamentary Disclosure
The details of the National SC/ST Hub scheme and its impact were shared by Minister of State for MSME, Shobha Karandlaje, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
