Parliament Question: Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Dakshina Kannada

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3632 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN DAKSHINA KANNADA

3632. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

(a) whether the entrepreneurship-development programmes has been conducted in Dakshina Kannada during the last three years and the current year;

(b) the details of number of persons trained, enterprises established, beneficiaries who obtained credit and enterprises continuing to operate under such programme for entrepreneurship in the said district during the said period;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment to identify sector-wise gaps in mentoring, credit and market access and the measures taken/proposed to improve enterprise conversion and survival of such enterprises; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): The Government of India promotes entrepreneurship, self-employment, enterprise creation and sustainable livelihoods through schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and other Ministries/Departments. MSDE through its autonomous organizations, namely, National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) implements various Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs) and Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programmes (ESDPs) across the country including Dakshina Kannada in the state of Karnataka. These EDPs and ESDPs are designed to impart entrepreneurial, financial, managerial and digital marketing skills and also to offer post-training support through mentorship, handholding, and access to credit/finance, market linkages and incubation facilities.

Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, emphasis is placed on entrepreneurship and livelihood creation through industry-relevant skill courses. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform provides access to skilling, employment, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship-related opportunities, including access to loans for entrepreneurship.

The scheme-wise details of entrepreneurship-related interventions undertaken by MSDE in the State of Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada during the last three years and the current year are given in Annexure-I.Furthermore, the details of various entrepreneurship development initiatives being implemented by other Ministries/Departments of Government of India across the country, including Dakshina Kannada in the State of Karnataka are placed at Annexure-II.

MSDE periodically assesses challenges faced by entrepreneurs through programme monitoring, feedback from participants, stakeholder consultations, follow-up interactions and field-level engagement. These assessments help identify gaps relating to mentoring, access to credit, market linkages and enterprise development support. To improve enterprise conversion and sustainability, the Ministry has undertaken several measures, including capacity building in entrepreneurship and business management, mentoring and handholding support under schemes, facilitation of credit and market linkages, promotion of digital and e-commerce platforms, and strengthening of entrepreneurial ecosystems through partnerships with industry, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (AC&ABC) Impact Assessment conducted during 2009 and 2019 identified gaps in credit access for agripreneurs and delays in loan sanctioning. To address the credit support gaps identified, state-wise AC&ABC workshops are conducted by NABARD involving bankers and other stakeholders including MANAGE, Hyderabad to strengthen credit facilitation. In addition, MANAGE and NABARD participate in the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) and District Level Consultative Committee (DLCC) meetings to address credit support issues for agripreneurs.

In addition, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has conducted an evaluation of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) through a third party agency covering PMEGP beneficiary units across all States/UTs to assess the performance of the PMEGP units established. Most of the PMEGP units reported increase in average annual income and positive profitability across sectors over the years.

Moreover, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying regularly monitors the implementation of the National Livestock Mission-Entrepreneurship Development Programme (NLM-EDP) through Project Approval Committee (PAC) meetings, Regional Review Meetings and the Central Level Bankers Committee (CLBC), which review project progress, pendency of applications and credit-related issues. Further, NITI Aayog has undertaken an evaluation of the National Livestock Mission, including the EDP component, which noted progress in breed development, feed and fodder security, and promotion of livestock-based entrepreneurship.ANNEXURE- I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED 3632 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING “ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN DAKSHINA KANNADA” The details of various entrepreneurship development initiatives being implemented by MSDE for entrepreneurs across the country, including Dakshin Kannada in the State of Karnataka

during the last three years and the current year are as under:

1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 4.0): Under PMKVY 4.0 which is under implementation since FY 2022-23, the focus is to empower trained candidates to choose their varied career path and they are suitably oriented for the same through On-Job Training (OJT) embedded industry relevant skill courses. The details of training conducted under PMKVY 4.0 in Dakshina Kannada during the last 3 years and current year are as under:

FY Trained/Oriented Certified FY-24-25 1,571 534 FY-25-26 388 1,016 FY-26-27 0* 0* Total 1,959 1,550 *data as on 30th June, 2026.

Overall 18 Training centres have been empanelled in the said District.

2. Strengthening Entrepreneurial Climate through Capacity Building, Incubation Support, Mentoring, and Handholding under SANKALP Scheme NIESBUD implemented a project for strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem of different marginalized sections of the society with the support of the Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Programme of the Ministry. The project aimed at creating, fostering and promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship among various target groups through Capacity Building, Incubation Support, Mentoring and Handholding. During the period from F.Y.2022–23 to FY 2024-25, a total of 1800 participants were trained in the state of Karnataka. A total number of 630 enterprises have been started by the trainees trained under the project in the state of Karnataka.

3. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Project NIESBUD and IIE are implementing the skilling and entrepreneurship component of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyaan (PM JANMAN) – a scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for upliftment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The scheme focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries including MSDE. One of the key interventions of the Ministry is facilitating skill and entrepreneurship developments in Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).

The project is being implemented with support of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) in 15 States across the country.

During the period from FY 2024-25 to FY 2025-26, a total of 489 VDVKs have been operationalizedand 38,386 members have been trained under Entrepreneurship Development Programme. Out of which, a total of 1168 members have been trained in the state of Karnataka and a total number of 21 VDVKs have been operationalised in the state.

4. Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) Project Under the Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project of MSDE, NIESBUD has conducted awareness and sensitization programmes at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). These activities were followed by the selection of prospective entrepreneurs to undergo the Entrepreneurship Development Programme

(EDP). The Institute has successfully conducted EDP training for the target groups and is providing mentoring and handholding support to help trainees establish their enterprises. During the period from FY 2023-24 to FY 2024-25, a total of 45,339 participants have been trained in EAP, out of which 32,091 participants underwent EDP training. In the state of Karnataka, 1247 trainees have been trained under EAP, out of which 924 were imparted EDP training.

5. Capacity Building Programme for Fair Price Shop Owners NIESBUD in collaboration with the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has undertaken a Capacity Building Programme for Fair Price Shop (FPS) Owners. The project is being undertaken as Special Project under PMKVY to enable the FPS owners to run their businesses in consonance with the contemporary practices being adopted by Retail Entrepreneurs. The programme aims to equip the participants with in-depth knowledge of various facets of entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, and government support ecosystem. During the period FY 2024-25, a total of 315 candidates have been trained out of which 28 participants were from the state of Karnataka.

6. Entrepreneurial Climate through Training of Trainers (ToTs) and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) in Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) NIESBUD has implemented a project for creating entrepreneurial climate through the Training of Trainers and the Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS). The project aimed at creating, fostering and promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship among the various target groups through Capacity Building, Mentoring and Handholding. During the period FY 2022- 23 to FY 2023-24, a total of 1664 participants have been trained through Training of Trainers Programme and 3969 participants through Entrepreneurship Development Programme, out of which 78 participants have been covered in the state of Karnataka through Training of Trainers Programme.

7. Entrepreneurship based Skill Development Program on Solar Entrepreneurship PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana NIESBUD and IIE in collaboration with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), is organizing Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) on Solar Entrepreneurship under the flagship initiative, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The programme aims to promote rooftop solar adoption, empower entrepreneurs, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities by fostering and mentoring budding and existing entrepreneurs in the field of solar entrepreneurship. During the period from FY 2024-25 to 2026-27 (till 06.08.2026), 41,161 candidates have been trained out of which 318 participants have been covered in the state of Karnataka. A total number of 21 trainees have started their enterprises in the state of Karnataka.ANENXURE II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED 3632 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING “ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN DAKSHINA KANNADA” The details of various entrepreneurship development initiatives being implemented by other Ministries/ Departments of Government of India for entrepreneurs across country, including Dakshin Kannada in the State of Karnataka during the last three years and the current year

are as under:

1. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises: Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), is implementing the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). It is a central sector scheme generating employment opportunities primarily in rural areas by assisting prospective entrepreneurs in setting up new micro enterprises in the non- farm sector across the country.

PMEGP assists General Category beneficiaries with Margin Money (MM) subsidy of 25% of the project cost in rural areas and 15% in urban areas. For beneficiaries belonging to Special Categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities, Women, Ex- servicemen, Physically Handicapped, Transgenders, beneficiaries belonging to North eastern Region (NER), Hill and Border areas, and Aspirational Districts, the Margin Money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban areas.

Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training is provided to prospective entrepreneurs and beneficiaries to provide orientation and awareness pertaining to various managerial and operational functions like finance, production, marketing, enterprise management etc. Under PMEGP, 1,270 persons were given EDP training in Dakshina Kannada during the last three years and the current year.

2. Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD): Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) scheme in the field of skill development for the welfare of rural poor youth under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) for their gainful employment and to eradicate poverty across the country. RSETI is a poverty alleviation programs under the DAY-NRLM for rural youth in the age group of 18-50. The objective of RSETI is self- employment and micro-enterprise development with a mandate of minimum 70% settlement (including max. 10% wage employment) and Credit-linkage facilitation and handholding support to trainees for up to two years after the completion of training. The RSETI scheme has been under implementation since the year 2008-09.

Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs) have been conducted in Dakshina Kannada district through the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Ujire, sponsored by RUDSETI (SDME Trust and Canara Bank) under the Ministry of Rural Development. The details of the persons trained, enterprises established, beneficiaries who obtained credit in Dakshina Kannada district during the last 3 years and current year are as follows:

FY Trained Settled Credit Linkage 2023-24 762 577 309 2024-25 1012 730 3682025-26 1029 732 516 2026-27 (up to 154 215 136

30.06.2026) Total 2957 2254 1329

3. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the National Livestock Mission- Entrepreneurship Development Programme (NLM-EDP), a credit-linked, demand-driven scheme that provides capital subsidy for establishment of livestock-based enterprises. During the last three years and the current year, 3 projects have been approved in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The details are as

under:

Piggery Small Total Project Loan Approved Total Subsidy Expected Expected Ruminants Cost in Amount in Subsidy in Released in (Cr) Employment Farmer

(Cr) (Cr) (Cr) Generated Benefitted 2 1 3 2.64 1.07 1.03 0.64 14 65 *****