Being the Founder & Advisor of Affirmative Chamber of Commerce & Industry, ACCI, with focus for entrepreneurship development of women and aspiring entrepreneurs, made attempts to find out the exact gaps which are to be addressed.

Mrs. Ratna Prabha, IAS, the former Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, who is the President of UBUNTU   expressed that the women members are mostly engaged in tiny businesses and are to be organized further to make them full-fledged entrepreneurs. Gap:  lack of knowledge on entrepreneurship and skills.

One of my friends. who has wide net work in international trade and commerce, having established a promising enterprise a year back, expressed difficulties in getting continued funding support from the original investors to such venture.  With curious, it is ascertained, the enterprise is in need of working capital and fund for upgrading the plant and machinery.  The ready to consume product has great potential growth both from domestic and export market.  The partner, who had conceived the project and claimed expertise in that line is not showing continued interest in the organized growth of the venture, which a very promising one.  Gap:  lack of understanding on “lift off” of an enterprise and funding options available.

Another entrepreneur after establishing a manufacturing unit in producing high end lighting facilities, after the departure of his partner, expressed the need for funding his enterprise to exploit the growing market.  Gap:  Commencing business without working capital plans.

Recently, interacted briefly with many entrepreneurs who are active members of The Rise, a global group, established by Rev Dr Jagath Gasper Raj.  Objective is to understand their scope, structure and to find out the gaps, if any, to be supplemented by imparting entrepreneurship skills, wherever need.  It appeared, most of the members of this group are contended in finding market for their product and services within the group.  Unable to understand as to they will expand the market even to the global members of this group.  Rev. Dr Gasper Raj, who had created an excellent network of Tamil Businessmen world over, understand the deficiency in the entrepreneurship skills of the members.  Rather, he had expressed his desire to address this through experts.  Assured to discuss   and formulate strategy to fill this gap.   Gap:  Knowledge about entrepreneurship and its potential for exponential growth.

On the contrary, recently attended a Marketing Enclave of MSME Ministry, conducted by NSIC, at KASSIA auditorium, wherein large number of enterprises and entrepreneurs have been awarded with excellence;  perhaps, they are registered entrepreneurs of MSME sectors, availing the beneficial schemes such as “Start-up”, “Mudra”, etc and get excellent supports in marketing the products through e-marketing portals of the MSME Ministry and export supports through participation in the national and international trade exhibitions, etc.  They also get the compulsory purchase prescription made by the government for procurement of products from the MSME enterprises.

Had assurance from the NSIC teams including the SC / ST Hub of NSIC that they would support entrepreneurship development from scratch to upgrade the business growth, through sector-wise skill upgradation training and development programs, besides facilitating funding from the banking sector, NBFC, NABARD, etc., marketing and promotional efforts through trade fairs.

Therefore, the gaps are clearly identified that many aspiring entrepreneurs are not aware of the skills and process of entrepreneurship, the existing schemes and process to be followed for project concepts, development, process involved, etc.   Strange, is that they are not even registered as an entrepreneur in MSME portal, UDYAM, and GST, which are pre-requisites for availing all the schemes and facilities of MSME Ministry and NSIC support.  Most of them, jump into business because some one has prompted or some other has similar business without proper preliminary research or study about the cost involvement, market potential, competition to be faced immediately and in the future, resourcing of seed capital, working capital etc.

A few essential portals of MSME Ministry, NSIC etc., were browed, extracted a select few are appended below, namely

• A clear, practical step-by-step planning and process guide to help build a successful start-up in India—from idea stage to scaling-up with templates. (Annexure 1)

• About MUDRA loan: (Annexure 2)

Loan categories & limits under PMMY (MUDRA):

Shishu: up to ₹50,000;

Kishore: >₹50,000 up to ₹5 lakh;

Tarun: >₹5 lakh up to ₹10 lakh;

Tarun-Plus: ₹10 lakh up to ₹20 lakh.

(www.mudra.org.in/faq?)

Where to apply:

Mudra loans are given by banks, NBFCs, MFIs and can be applied to the nearest branch or via the Mudra portal and partner lenders. Refinance & project profiles are published on mudra.org.in//utm_source=

Udyam (MSME) registration:

Udyam registration (online) is the government MSME registration —

beneficial and often required by banks to avail MSME/Mudra benefits;

registration is online and self-declaratory at udyamregistration.gov.in

• MUDRA LOAN PROCESS EXPLAINED WITH MODEL TEMPLATE (Annexure 3)

• A complete, ready-to-submit MUDRA Loan Submission Package based on fictional details. (Annexure 4)

In fact, the MSME Ministry, has identified and prepared a ready to use Projects, with all needed and supportive materials for each of such ventures and placed in their website.  Extract is also placed below for the benefit of new and aspiring entrepreneurs to study and adopt in formulating their own business concept and commencement. (Annexure 5)

All aspiring and existing entrepreneurs may go through them carefully, follow the process by adapting the model formats given.  If needed, they can approach ACCI for fixing a consultant from the panel so that that  they are properly explained, and applied.  It is expected that such an exercise would help all of them to have a sound understanding of their entrepreneurship and to commence or to strengthen their business and grow faster than their own expectation.

ACCI will be proud to associate with such entrepreneurs and assist them in making them successful in their venture through its panel of consultants.  For further details and enquiry please visit www.wordpress-886120-5882668.cloudwaysapps.com and mail to founder@wordpress-886120-5882668.cloudwaysapps.com / info@wordpress-886120-5882668.cloudwaysapps.com