Increase in women applicants for entrepreneurial scheme

(File Photo)

There has been noticeable rise in women seeking self-employment under Unemployed Youth Employment Generation Programme (UYEGP) in the district to derive the subsidy benefit of 25% of the project cost offered by the State Government, according to S. Kandasamy, General Manager of District Industries Centre, Tiruchi.

Women account for nearly 50% of the 195 applicants received so far under the scheme this year, he said. Most of the applications pertain to plans for setting up garment-making unit, fancy store or beauty parlour. Applications from men, as usual, seek to set up fabrication units catering to the construction sector, lathes and motor rewinding units.

Weaker sections

The UYEGP — implemented by the State Government's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department since 2010-11 to recompense for lesser allocation to States by the Centre under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme — envisages mitigation of unemployment problems of socially and economically weaker sections of society, particularly educated unemployed youth.

The minimum qualification is eighth standard pass, and the family income not exceeding Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum. Barring direct agriculture and livestock rearing, applications for other income generation activities are accepted, Mr. Kandasamy said.

While the maximum funding for manufacturing activity was doubled last year to Rs. 10 lakh, the availability for service and business activities continues to be Rs. 3 lakh and Rs. 1 lakh respectively. The promoter’s contribution is 10 per cent of the project cost, and half that extent for applicants in SC/ST, BC, MBC, minorities, ex-servicemen, physically challenged, and transgender categories. The minimum age limit is completion of 18 years, and the maximum is 35 years for general category, and 45 years for the rest.

Other reasons why the number of applicants for the UYEGP is high is that there is no other government scheme that guarantees substantial individual-level funding for eligible applicants, and the applicants do not have to obtain SSI certification. They only have to self-certify through UAM (Udyog Aadhar Memorandum) registration.

No GST

There will not be any inspection of the manufacturing unit either. Also, the applicants are not likely to face the eventuality of coming into the GST framework since there is no probability for their annual turnover to exceed beyond the Rs. 20 lakh exemption limit.

Banks forwarding loans for self-employment under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana can also avail the utility of subsidy to be reimbursed by the State Government for fulfilment of the loan targets.

A press release issued by District Collector K. Rajmani said eligible youth need to apply online under UYEGP at www.msmeonline.tn.gov.in/uyegp/ and send a hard copy of the application along with the required documents to the General Manager, District Industries Centre, Collector Office Road, Tiruchi - 620001. There is no need to submit the application and documents in person.

The DIC, Tiruchi, has offered to provide more guidance to eligible UYEGP applicants over phone: 0431 - 2460331 / 2460823.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/increase-in-women-applicants-for-entrepreneurial-scheme/article19507089.ece