Drive launched to create entrepreneurs

[dwarakesh]

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – Development Institute (MSME-DI) and the Punjab National Bank jointly launched their 'Entrepreneurship Motivation Campaign' on Thursday for creating new entrepreneurs and developing industrial activities in the region.

On successful completion of the training programme for aspiraing entrepreneurs, PNB will extend loan assistance to them on the basis of their knowledge, skill, and personality management.

For easy marketability of products, emphasis will be accorded for starting industrial units on a cluster basis in the areas of fabrication, readymade garments and manufacture of artificial diamonds.

With the support of Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries' Association (TIDITSSIA), under its Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development project, the District Industries Centre (DIC) will play an active role in the formation of Industrial Cooperative Estate in Tiruchi.

Similar initiatives will also be undertaken in neighbouring districts, B. Baskaran, General Manager, DIC, Tiruchi, said addressing a gathering of aspiring entrepreneurs. It is conducive to establish common facility centres in clusters.

The new entrepreneurs are to be provided funding through banks under the new Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme – a merged entity of the schemes of Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, and Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Mr. Baskaran said training will be imparted at TREC-STEP (Tiruchi Regional Engineering College – Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Park) for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Machining, at the Apparel Training Centre in Khajamalai Campus of Bharathidasan University for readymade garments, and at Welding Research Institute in BHEL in Welding Technology, he said and explained in detail the subsidies that would accrue to new entrepreneurs under government scheme, and on the scope for dovetailing PMEGP with the Credit Guarantee scheme.

J. Mohan, Chief Manager, PNB, Tiruchi Circle, said of the bank's total business of Rs. 3,16,747 crore, an amount of Rs. 18,028 crore had been given for SME Sector.

In Tiruchi Circle, the bank has sanctioned Rs. 480 crore for SME sector as on September 2008, registering a growth rate of 14 per cent over last year, he said.

N. Srinivasulu, Assistant Director, MSME-DI, urged prospective entrepreneurs to demonstrate their aptitude by making the best of the available schemes and training facilities.

In his presentation, TIDITSSIA secretary S. Abdul Rasheed focussed on the approach the new entrepreneurs ought to adopt.

Source: The Hindu