District Skill Committee (DSC), Wokha District Administration has adopted a One Stop Centre model under the Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF) to assist entrepreneurs in the district. ETF’s One Stop Centre has enabled departments and various agencies to work in unison and in convergent and concerted fashion to support the entrepreneurs. All the relevant line agencies including departments and financial institutions/ banks under the task force have been brought under one umbrella to provide all-inclusive solutions to his/her needs at the various State and Central departments/agencies.

Under the One Stop Centre, the departments are now able to coordinate to tailor their efforts for business development of the entrepreneurs in holistic, end to end and convergent manner instead of pushing their respective schemes. This approach has eliminated the need for entrepreneurs to run from pillar to post seeking various services and information required for setting up and running a business.

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The District Skill Committee Wokha informed Nagaland Tribune that since the establishment of ETF in August 2022, it has been able to engage with over a thousand entrepreneurs and is supporting them holistically. It has been able to significantly increase the loan sanctions even by some private banks. As a result, the district is able to effectively utilize the credit schemes and other facilities available under various departments for the benefit of the entrepreneurs.

ETF offers assistance in various aspects such as business registration, trade licenses, tax registrations, legal consultation, financial assistance and guidance, skilling and other government-related services. Entrepreneurs in the ‘land of plenty’ can access all these services by visiting a single office, eliminating the need to move around different government offices which can be time-consuming and challenging.

Functions of Wokha Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF):

– Enhanced Credit Linkages: ETF has worked with banks and departments to improve the detailed project reports (DPRs) and provide support to business professionals to handhold the rural business. It has also worked with local bodies to bring about changes in local regulations to facilitate the businesses in obtaining various licenses and permits.

– Skill Support: Relevant skills trainings based on demands of the business have been provided by ensuring that all the agencies like ITI, KVK, Agri and allied departments work in unison.

– Market Linkage: ETF has also endeavoured to work with the agencies such as Tea Board/Trifed to provide market linkages. And it will be working with other agencies to extend similar support in other sectors.

– The Centre has also endeavoured to provide incubation services to entrepreneurs who are starting their businesses.

Anyone belonging to Wokha district can apply to the ETF for business support by filling up the Google form at https://rb.gy/iktsy or by email to etfwokha@gmail.com .

Nagaland government schemes

Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI)Top of Form

To encourage credit for carrying out economic activities, an omnibus scheme under the nomenclature ‘CM’s Micro Finance Initiative’ is being launched by the Government of Nagaland. Under this Scheme, subsidy and interest subvention against identified activities in the agriculture & allied sector including processing units, MSME etc. will be provided to eligible beneficiaries – Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Unemployed Youths, Self Help Groups, Farmers’ Producers Organisations, Co-operative Societies.

The State Government will provide Interest subvention of 4% to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and credit linkage to farmers, over and above the 3% provided by the Government of India on prompt repayment of dues by the borrower,

Moratorium period upto maximum of 6 months

Repayment period upto maximum of 7 years

Maximum ceiling admissible under this scheme will be ₹ 15.00 Lakhs

Central Government sponsored schemes

1. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund- (AIF)

Objective of Scheme: Improve marketing Infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and distress sale, develop community farming assets, innovation in agriculture.

Eligible activities: –

1. Primary Processing activities
2. Storage infra, Packaging, Assaying, Cold Storage
3. Supply Chain services
4. Logistics-limited
5. Organic inputs production; Bio-Stimulant units
6. Nursery, Tissue Culture, Seed Processing
7. Custom Hiring Centres
8. Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture including drones

Eligible Beneficiaries: Farmers, Entrepreneurs, FPOs, SHGs, JLGs, PACS, Start-ups, State agencies, Federations.

Benefit under scheme: Interest subvention of 3% p.a.

Important things to keep in mind: Credit Guarantee for loans up to ₹2 Crore. Cap on lending rate @ 9% p.a.

Process:

1. Register on Portal
2. Apply for loan through portal with DPR
3. Application verified by Central PMU online and then forwarded to bank.
4. Bank sanctions loans and updates in portal online.
5. Interest Subvention and Credit Guarantee released by GoI.

How to apply: Website https://agriinfra.dac.gov.in/

2. PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)

Purpose

1. Enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.
2. Support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Producers Cooperatives along their entire value chain.

Objectives

1. Increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, FPOs, Self Help Groups and Co-operatives.
2. Integration with organized supply chain by strengthening branding & marketing.
3. Support for transition of existing 2,00,000 enterprises into formal framework.
4. Increased access to common services like common processing facility, laboratories, storage, packaging, marketing and incubation services.
5. Strengthening of institutions, research and training in the food processing sector.
6. Increased access for the enterprises, to professional and technical support.

Features

– Type of Facility: Term loan

– Margin: Minimum of 10% of the project cost.

– Quantum of Loan: Minimum loan: No ceiling; Maximum loan: No ceiling

– Repayment: Max. 10 years including maximum moratorium of 6-24 months.

– Security: As per Bank’s extant guidelines.

– Interest rate: – For Eligible MSME Entities:

1. Loan up to Rs. 2 Cr: EBLR (External Benchmark based Lending Rate) +200 bps.
2. Loan above Rs. 2 Cr: As per Bank’s extant guidelines.
3. For Other Categories: FPOs/ SHGs/ Producer Cooperatives: Loan up to Rs. 50 lakhs: EBLR +360 bps; Loan above Rs.50 lakhs: As per Bank’s extant guidelines.

– Upfront fee: As per Bank’s extant guidelines, are subject to revision by bank from to time.

– Subsidy/ Grant

1. Individual Micro Enterprises: Capital Subsidy @35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of 10.00 lakh per unit.
2. FPOs/ SHGs/ Co-operatives: @35% of eligible project cost.
3. Common Infrastructure Development: @35 % of eligible project cost.

– Credit Guarantee: For MSME: – CGTMSE for collateral free loan up to Rs.2 Cr. Other categories: For loans under MUDRA credit guarantee of CGFMU.

– Portal: https://pmfme.mofpi.gov.in

1. 1. 3. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana

Objective of Scheme: Development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach by linking groups of producers/ farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain with modern infrastructure.

Eligible activities:

1. Agro processing Cluster (APC)
2. Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC)
3. Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure
4. Setting up Mega Food Park (MFP)

Eligible Beneficiaries:

1. MFP – Special Purpose Vehicle
2. Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure and APC and CEFPPC- Partnership/ Proprietorship Firms, Companies, Corporations, Cooperatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc.

Benefit under scheme Subsidy:

1. MFP: 50% (general areas), 75% (NE and Tribal Notified areas
2. CEFPPC: 35% / 50% iii. Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure: 35% to 50% / 50% to 75%

Website: https://www.mofpi.gov.in/

Skill training program organised by Wokha District Administration, District Skill Committee (DSC) for fish farmers at Baghty in May 2022

Wokha District Skill Committee informed that citizens can get assistance on all the mentioned schemes through Wokha SAATHI CHATBOT. All information about the available schemes like eligibility, how and where to apply are available through the CHATBOT.

DSC also informed that it is working to include more schemes in the coming days.

Read more: Wokha Saathi Chatbot – All you need to know