Govt programme supports 4.32 lakh rural enterprises, 86 pc from disadvantaged sections

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) The Start‑up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) supported 4.32 lakh rural enterprises by June-end, and delivered notable gains in profitability, incomes and social inclusion of entrepreneurs of disadvantaged sections of society, the government said on Saturday.

Under SVEP, around 86 per cent of entrepreneurs belong to SC, ST, minority and OBC communities, an official statement said, adding that Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest numbers of enterprises supported.

The programme, implemented through State Rural Livelihoods Missions, supports non‑farm enterprises with training, finance, mentoring and community‑led institutional support.

Through SHGs, CRP-EPs, bank linkages, and convergence with schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, SVEP has expanded its outreach. SVEP has emerged as an effective grassroots model for poverty reduction, local employment generation, and rural economic development.

The government has released a cumulative central share of Rs 942.09 crore up to February 2026 continued expansion of SVEP for continued expansion of SVEP.

This is nearly 738 per cent higher than the cumulative Rs 112.39 crore released between the programme’s launch in 2016 and January 2018.

SVEP is implemented through the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs), with a provision of Rs 6.50 crore per block and an average investment of Rs 27,083 per enterprise.

It has demonstrated that rural entrepreneurship can act as a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth when supported by strong community institutions, the statement noted.

By empowering women, SC or ST communities, and first-generation entrepreneurs, the programme has transformed local aspirations into sustainable enterprises. This further leads to higher incomes, increased savings, and improved household well-being.

Community Resource Person-Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP) are selected jointly by SRLMs and Project Implementing Agencies through testing, training, and certification. Preference is given to local residents with basic business and mathematical skills.

At least 90 per cent of CRP-EPs are selected from SHG households, with women constituting a minimum of 60 per cent of the cadre. Each CRP-EP provides mentoring, training, and credit facilitation support to up to 50 enterprises.

—IANS

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The surrendered red ultra, Bijaya Punem alias Ajay, hails from Batigudem village under Husur police limits in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.

He is an Area Committee Member (ACM) under the “Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagabali” (BGN) division of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Ajay joined the CPI(Maoist) organisation in 2009, and after completion of his preliminary training, he was attached to the security and protection team of top Maoist leader Modem Balakrishna alias Manoj, a Central Committee Member (CCM).

Ajay was later promoted from party member to the rank of ACM in 2014. After being promoted to the rank of ACM, he continued working as the Gunman of Manoj.

In 2023, he was transferred to the BGN Division and started working in the Ghumsar Area Committee of the BGN Division from January 2024.

He was active in the Nuapada- Kalahandi-Boudh-Malkangiri-Koraput-Rayagada-Kandhamal areas of the state during 2014-2024.

The surrendered Maoist leader is suspected to be involved in several incidents of violent activities, including the killing of a civilian in Kandhamal on May 26, 2024, several incidents of exchange of fire with police personnel in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Ajay was carrying a cash reward of Rs 4 lakh, which was announced by the Odisha government.

On Tuesday, he surrendered along with a 9mm pistol, eight rounds of live ammunition and one walkie-talkie.

Police sources claimed that he quit the banned outfit citing wrong ideology of CPI(Maoists) cadres, rude and abnormal behaviour of the top leadership, frequent operations by security forces in their operating areas, insufficient food, water and cloth, tough terrain in Odisha, distance from native place, language problem and no recruitment and active support from public in and around their jurisdiction area.

The party members of CPI(Maoist) are being regularly urged by the police to give up violence and avail the benefits provided under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the Government of Odisha.

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Man wanted in connection with murder case held after 15 years

Gurugram, May 12 (IANS) The Gurugram police have arrested a murder accused carrying a bounty of Rs 5,000, fifteen years after the crime was committed, an official said on Monday.

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The Union Minister’s remark came close to former diplomat Kanwal Sibal disapproving of Kharge’s recent criticism of the Indian government over the US President Donald Trump’s decision to revise guidelines, including a massive fee hike, for the H1-B visa, used by a large number of Indian techies to work in the US.

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“Is the Opposition against India refusing to be dictated on our foreign policy choices by the US? We have, unlike Pakistan, not done business deals involving his family and close associates to earn Trump’s goodwill, which, in any case, cannot be relied upon. Why try to exploit a serious external challenge for domestic politicking? A lot has been achieved in the last many years in our ties with the US,” he added.

Kharge earlier criticised the Narendra Modi government and the tariff deadlock with the US, accusing it of failure in safeguarding national interests.

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