‘Stand Up India’ scheme has fulfilled aspirations of women, SCs, STs: Government

On the sixth anniversary of Stand Up India Scheme, centre claimed that the scheme has fulfilled the aspirations entrepreneurs, particularly women and Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and also sift through the achievements, salient features and enhancement to the scheme over the years.

Recognizing the challenges faced by Aspiring SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs, Stand up India Scheme was launched on 5th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation.

In 2019-20, the Stand Up India scheme was extended for the entire period coinciding with the 15th Finance Commission period of 2020-25.

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the scheme has facilitated more than 1.33 lakh new job-creators and entrepreneurs. She also said more than 1 lakh women promoters have benefitted from this Scheme.

Nirmala Sitharaman said, “As we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Stand-Up India Scheme, it is heartening to see that more than 1.33 lakh new job-creators and entrepreneurs have so far been facilitated under this Scheme.”

Sitharaman further said, “More than 1 lakh women promoters have benefitted from this Scheme during its six years of operation. The Government understands the potential these rising entrepreneurs have in driving economic growth through their roles as not just wealth-creators but also job-creators.”

“The objective of Stand-Up India is to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, to help them in starting a greenfield enterprise in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture,” read a statement by Ministry of Finance.