Most developed and developing countries ensure that their disadvantaged groups get special opportunities. The Union Cabinet has approved the enhancement of the authorized share capital of the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) from Rs 1000 crore to Rs 1200 crore. It will enable the NSFDC to disburse more funds to Dalit borrowers. These people often have no access to sufficient credit for their startups. The government has also embarked on a ‘Stand-up India’ programme which promotes entrepreneurship among depressed classes and women. Dalits enjoy legal safeguards and the fruits of positive official action but still come up against numerous hurdles. Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula of Hyderabad Central University who had committed suicide did research on the extent of impediments Dalits have to face. Some of them overcome these hurdles and shape up to be entrepreneurs but their challenges do not end there. There is a regrettable gap between what is allocated and what reaches the beneficiaries. Funds meant for specific social groups elude them. Even if they get capital, they have difficulty in acquiring land and providing collateral security for bank loans.
The decision to enhance the authorized share capital of the NSFDC is welcome. It will improve the electoral prospects of the BJP in UP, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Punjab which have a large number of Dalits in their electorate. But the mindset is most important and prejudice thwarting entrepreneur ambition of Dalits has to be removed. The government must be proactive in removing such bias as it is often promoted by persons in the corridors of power.
