New Delhi: More than Rs 30,160 crore loans have been sanctioned to over 1,33,995 accounts under Stand-Up India scheme in the last six years, said Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, adding that as more and more beneficiaries from underserved segments of entrepreneurs are targeted for coverage, we would make significant strides towards building an Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

She said that recognizing the challenges faced by aspiring SC, ST and women entrepreneurs, the Stand-Up India scheme was launched on April 5, 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroots 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.

 “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. More than one 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,” she said.

As India is growing rapidly, hopes, aspirations and expectations of a large group of potential entrepreneurs, particularly women and Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), are rising. They want to set up an enterprise of their own to allow themselves to thrive and grow. Such entrepreneurs are spread across the country and are bubbling with ideas on what they can do for themselves and their families. /BI/