Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, April 30 (EMN): Minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir, launched the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) for Ongpangkong North and Kobulong blocks during a programme held at Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School auditorium in Mokokchung town on Saturday.
SVEP for Ongpangkong North and Kobulong Blocks would be implemented by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission under Phase-II.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamir stated that the programme is being implemented for blocks that are near the urban hubs to prioritise easy access and initiations of activities as per the market demands, adding the programme focuses on SHGs and entrepreneurs to uplift economic growth in the rural areas.
In this regard, Jamir advised the participating blocks to prioritise their activity according to the demand of the market.
“Understand the market dynamics and venture out which would be sustainable and profitable for the activities you have invested,” he said.
He also pointed out that the programme gives special importance to women because the core objective was to get them self-employed along with their counterparts to alleviate socio-economic growth.
He has attributed lack of consistency among the people and the tendency to switch from one activity to another with mastering adequate skill as the biggest stumbling block towards implementation of projects in the district. In this connection, the minister urged the participants to ponder seriously on which activity they would like to invest and work with full dedication. Besides, he urged them to learn the skills of that activity during the course of their venture so that it might bear fruits in the long run.
The SVEP objective was to enable rural poor to set up their enterprises by developing a sustainable model for village entrepreneurship through integrated ICT techniques and tools for training and capacity building, enterprise advisory services and to provide loans from banks/ SHGs and federation. It also aims to develop local resources by training a pool of village community cadre (CRP EP) and build the capacity of the NRLM and SHG Federation to monitor and direct the works of CRP EPs.
“It would also help the rural entrepreneurs to access for starting their enterprises from the NRLM SHGs and federation, community enterprise fund (CEF) and the banks,” said Imtimenla, joint secretary and mission director of NSRLM.
She hoped to train, finance and nurture about 864 enterprises during the course of implementation of SVEP in Ongpangkong North and Kubolong blocks. She further informed that the approved budget for SVEP implementation was INR 438.10 lakh, which would be released in four installments out of which INR 225 lakh has been earmarked as CEF to provide loans to entrepreneurs, who are trained to start enterprise.
The maximum loan per entrepreneur would be INR 1 lakh and INR 5 lakh for group enterprise. The SVEP would be implemented for four years, she informed.
Currently, there are 127 SHGs, 11 village level organisations and 1 block level federation under Kobulong block, while under Ongpangkong North there are 252 SHGs, 18 village level organisations and one block level federation, she added.
Short speeches were also delivered by DC of Mokokchung, Shashank Pratap Singh; chairman of Sungratsu village council, Takachiba; and chairman of Ungma village council, Nungshilepden; and others.