Transforming Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Youth in to Entrepreneurs through Entrepreneurship Development Strategy in Gujarat

Abstract

Socioeconomic condition and compulsion for income generation of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth is becoming major barriers to transform them in entrepreneur. It means not that they do not want to go for enterprising career option or they do not want to take risk but social limitation, lack of exposure and community behavior pulling them back to take the new initiative. To break the myth and come out form the traditional occupation circle is a challenging issue for SC – ST youth. Ministry of MSME, Govt of India has taken initiative to promote entrepreneurship among SC / ST youth under NSSH scheme. EDII has taken a lead to work with the most challenging segment to put them in economic mainstream. Sensitizing SC / ST youth and other stakeholders for this complex process was addressed in a very systematic manor. Specially designed promotional strategy to attract SC / ST potential entrepreneurs was designed and implemented. Community dynamics and individual behavior plaid an important role in whole process. Programmes were designed very specifically to address all the issues related to transforming SC / ST youth into entrepreneurs. This paper attempts to understand the whole transforming process from a common person to entrepreneurial one.