Basohli SVEP Model fast empowering Rural Economy

Kathua : As the urban landscape across India is abuzz with startup ecosystem, the rural milieu is also blossoming with entrepreneur culture through Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) under Deendayal AntodayaYojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)
Kathua is the first district in Jammu and Kashmir where SVEP was rolled out in the year 2016.
The scheme envisages helping the rural poor to come out of poverty by setting up small enterprises and providing support till the enterprises stabilizes.
The scheme focuses on creating avenues for sustainable livelihood and self-employment by providing financial assistance and training in business management of soft skills, while creating local community cadres for promotion of enterprises.
The Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme in block Basohli of district Kathua has been a key contributor in uplifting the socio-economic condition of the inhabitants and so far 1075 females and 478 males have availed the scheme by opening new startups in trade, industry and service sector and treaded towards becoming self reliant.
The programme has also brought a qualitative atmosphere of making efforts with the handholding of DAY-NRLM thus lowering down the dependence on government jobs, besides enabling beneficiaries to provide employment opportunities to others.
The implementation of the programme in block Basohli has provided avenues of employment to 1372 beneficiaries from general categories, 23 from OBC, 119 from SC, 31 from ST and 8 beneficiaries from Minority class which depicts that the benefit of the SVEP has been derived by every section of the society.
Another key aspect of SVEP loans is that it works through the domain of Self Help Groups and applicants must be members of the SHG to get a corpus of loan to set up the business.
Under the Programme the beneficiaries have started Karyana shops, Commercial Automobiles, Dhaba, Boutique, Beauty Parlor, Bakery etc paving way for prosperity in the lives of rural families through the ambit of self help groups which in turn also strengthen the resolve of supporting Self Help Group especially women folks who always remained active in prospering rural economies.
The programme has received overwhelming response and as against the funds available to the tune of Rs.2.5 Cr, an expenditure of Rs. 2.93 Cr has been incurred by way of disbursing loans to entrepreneurs. The amount of Rs.43.39 lakh received as interest is also being utilised to extend benefit to more numbers of beneficiaries.