Shillong, Jan 25: With an aim to enhance entrepreneurship eco-system in Meghalaya, Aide et Action launched a new “Micro Enterprise Promotion Program” in Ribhoi district of Meghalaya. The inaugural programme was held on 24thJanuary, 2019 at 11AM at the SGSY Hall, Umsning C&RD Block Office, Umsning.
Mr Jason Sawkmie Mawlong, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Umsning Constituency graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Shri Anand Srivastava, Regional Head, SIDBI; Sri Pranab Panging, Regional Manager, Aide et Action; Shri Raja Brahma, Block Development Officer, Umsning, among other representatives from banks, government agencies and representatives from village bodies. More than 100 participants attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion and welcoming the initiative, Umsning MLA Sri Jason Sawkmie Mawlong said, “We should seize such opportunities to skill ourselves and set up enterprise so that living standards can be improved in the area. At present we are aware that there are few government jobs and huge number of applicants for a single post, so we should look for other alternatives such as these programmes where we get opportunities to start our own business.”
SIDBI’s Regional Head, Sri Anand P. Srivastava, said “Ribhoi has tremendous opportunities for entrepreneurship and towards this SIDBI and Aide et Action along with other relevant stakeholders would work together to promote entrepreneurship among youth in the district.
The programme would provide free technical and entrepreneurship development training to youth and then would establish credit linkage for them to set up their units. Once the units have been set, handholding supporting would also be given to them to ensure their sustainability.”
The project supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is initiated with the objective of setting up 100 small enterprises among youth from low income households and support them in becoming successful entrepreneurs.
Aspiring youth from the district would be provided with the technical and enterprise management skills while also facilitating their linkages with financial institutions/nationalized banks for accessing credit to start new business or expand their existing units.
SIDBI has so far sponsored such MEPPs in 124 districts in 26 States of the country and cumulatively, about 41,500 enterprises have been promoted under this promotional initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and utilisation of local resources, which has generated employment opportunities for about 1.07 lakh persons mainly belonging to underprivileged section of the society.
