PM to present national awards to small entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present National Awards to the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs here today.

New Delhi, Aug 30: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present National Awards to the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs here today.

The awards will be given in three categories -- Outstanding Entrepreneurs of Micro and Small Enterprises, Khadi and Village Industries and Coir Industries; Special Awards to Women and SC/ST Entrepreneurs, and Banks for Excellence in Small Enterprises Lending.

The Centre instituted a scheme of national awards under the title 'National Award for Research and Development Efforts in Small Scale Industries' in 1999 to encourage in-house research and development (R and D) efforts, and to promote this spirit in the larger interest of qualitative development in Small Scale Industries.

Under this scheme, first, second and third awards are conferred to deserving registered small scale industries, which may be in continuous production for at least four years before the year of award.

The first, second and third awards carry a cash prize of one lakh rupees, 75 thousand rupees, and fifty thousand rupees respectively, besides a certificate and a trophy.

With a view to encourage the banks to enhance credit flow to the MSE Sector, a scheme of National Awards to the Banks in recognition of their outstanding performance in financing the micro and small enterprises sector was introduced from the year 2001-02.

The National Awards for Excellence in Lending to Micro Enterprises were instituted from the year 2005-06.

ANI