SC/ST industrialists will also get up to 30% cheaper land, govt to hold special exhibitions to promote their industries
Industrialists and entrepreneurs from the Dalit and tribal communities will now get preferential treatment in Maharashtra as the BJP-led state government has reserved 20 per cent of its industrial plots for scheduled castes and tribes. The government will also offer them land at cheaper rates.
A policy in this regard was approved on Tuesday by the state cabinet. The new policy, which is named as "Dr Babasaheb Amebdkar Special Group Entrepreneurship Scheme", seeks to grant incentives to businessmen from these weaker sections of society to set-up small and medium industries to help their social and economic mobility. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka already have such policies for backward classes.
The policy not only sets aside 20% land for them, but also offers 30% subsidy (with a cap of Rs10 lakh) on the land cost. In non-MIDC areas also, 20% cheaper land (with a cap of Rs5 Lakh) will be given to them. SC/ST entrepreneurs will also get rebate in power tariff for five years. Over 15-20% subsidy will be extended to them on capital investment.
"The scheme is being launched on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary year of Dr BR Ambedkar," said an industry department official. The approval of the policy ahead of the 'Make in India' week in Mumbai from February 13 to 18 assumes greater significance as the government seeks to showcase Maharashtra as an attractive investment destination for the manufacturing sector.
The government would also set up a venture capital fund (VCF) with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) only for Dalit and tribal businessmen. The move aims to transform Dalits and tribals from being job-seekers to job-givers.
A delegation of industrialists from the SCs and STs had been requesting the government for the past couple of months to give preferential treatment to people from socially backward classes.
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