Guidelines for Swavalamban
(Self-Employment Generation Programme) :

1. Introduction

2. Objective

3. Organisational Set-up

4. Target Groups

5. Identification of Activities

6. Identification and Selection of Entrepreneur

7. Arrangement for Skill Upgradation

8. Backward and Forward Linkages
   

9. Application for Self-Employment Programme(Swavalamban)

10. Application for Self-Employment Programme(Word Document)

1.    INTRODUCTION

A large number of Self Employment Programmes have been under implementation in the State during the last few decades as sponsored schemes of the Government. Success of these programmes, for achieving sustainable Self Employment and development of entrepreneurship, has been found to be limited due to various shortcomings and constraints. On the other hand, scope for creation of further employment opportunities in the government sector is becoming limited owing to resource constraints and other factors. Keeping in view the mounting problems of unemployment situation in the State, specially among the educated youth, the State Govt has decided to lay special emphasis on creation of self employment opportunities by up-gradation of skills of potential entrepreneurs and creating required support systems to ensure that a sizable number of unemployed youth can take up Self Employment activities for their economic empowerment.

2. OBJECTIVE

2.1 The basic objective of this programme is to ensure that a sizable number of unemployed youth can be developed as potential entrepreneurs so that they can take up gainful Self Employment in different activities/trades/areas for economic self-reliance.

2.2 The programme aims at:

i. Professional approach to ensure proper selection of entrepreneurs, taking into consideration their aptitude, motivational aspects and appropriate activity;
ii. Careful selection of activities keeping in view backward and forward linkages;
iii. Thrust on skill up-gradation, including training for development as a potential entrepreneur, through professional agencies/ institutions;
iv. Encourage entrepreneurs for sharing of capital contribution and promoting linkages for adequate finance;
v. Effective arrangement for recovery of loan; and
vi. Facilitation, Coordination and support from different agencies.

3. ORGANISATIONAL SET-UP

3.1 There shall be a State-level Self Employment Generation Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Tripura for providing proper leadership and guidance as well as for monitoring the implementation of the programme. The committee shall consist of the following:

i) Chief Minister, Tripura  : Chairman
ii) Minister, SC Welfare :  Member
iii) Minister, Finance : Member
iv) Minister, Tribal Welfare : Member
v) Minister, Agriculture : Member
vi) Minister, Animal Resource Development : Member
vii) Minister, RD : Member
viii) Minister, Industries & Commerce  : Member
ix) Minister, Handloom, Handicraft & Sericulture : Member
x) Chief Secretary, Tripura : Member
xi) Principal Secretary, RD : Member
xii) Commissioner and Secretary, Finance : Member
xiii) Commissioner & Secretary, Industry & Commerce : Member
xiv) Nodal Officer for Self Employment Generation programme  : Member Secretary

3.2 The committee shall meet at least twice in a year for review and monitoring of the programme. The Notification in this respect was issued vide No.F.2(1)-CS/I&C(SEP)/2000 dated 24-3-2001.

3.3 There shall be an Executive Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary at the State level for providing proper leadership and guidance in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Special Self Employment Generation Programme. The body will be registered under the Societies Registration Act .The composition of the Committee shall be as under: -

i). Chief Secretary, Tripura : Chairman
ii). Principal Secretary, RD : Member
iii). Commissioner and Secretary, Finance : Member
iv). Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture : Member
v). Commissioner & Secretary, I & C : Member
vi). Commissioner and Secretary, Tribal Welfare : Member
vii). Commissioner and Secretary, Animal Resources Development : Member
viii). Commissioner and Secretary, SC Welfare : Member
ix). Regional Manager, UBI  : Member
x). Assistant General Manager, SBI : Member
xi). Chairman, TGB : Member
xii). General Manager, TSCB : Member
xiii). Chief manager, UCO Bank : Member
xiv). General Manager, Agartala Co-op. Urban Development Bank : Member
xv). Officer-in-Charge, NABARD : Member
xvi). Nodal Officer :  Member-Secretary

3.4 The functions of the State Level Committee shall be broadly as under:

i. Provide leadership and guidance in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the programme.
ii. Review the District-wise progress of the programme and suggest ways and means for its success.
iii. Monitor and evaluate implementation of the programme with reference to the objectives of the programme.
iv. Provide a forum for a meaningful dialogue between the policy makers at the State Level and the implementers at the field level as well as with the bankers.
v. Create an enabling environment to realize the above objectives.
vi. Discuss any other issue relating to the programme for its success.

3.5 The Committee shall meet at least once in a quarter and submit report to the State Level Committee about the progress of implementation of the programme. The Notification constituting this Committee was issued vide No. F.2(1)-CS/I&C(SEP)/2000 dated 29-3-2001

3.6 In the Districts, a District Level Body will be set-up which will be known as the District Self Employment Committee with the Sabhadhipati of the Zilla Parishad as its Chairman. The composition of the Committee at District Level shall be as under:-

i).     Sabhadhipati, Zilla Parishad : Chairman
ii).     D.M. & Collector : Vice Chairman
iii)     Superintendent of Police :  Member
vi).     Deputy Director, Agriculture :  Member
v).     Deputy Director, A.R.D.D. : Member
vi).     Deputy Director, Fisheries : Member
vii).     General Manager, District Industries, Centre : Member
viii).     Lead Bank Officer : Member
xi).     Representative of SBI  : Member
x).     Representative of Tripura Gramin Bank  : Member
xi).     Zonal Development Officer, ADC : Member
xii).     Representative of NABARD : Member
xiii).     District Tribal Welfare Officer : Member
xiv).     Two Chairmen of Panchayat Samitis selected by rotation, for one year, in alphabetical order : Member
xv). Two Chairmen of BACs selected by rotation, for one year, in alphabetical order.:  Member
xvi). One Chairman, Nagar Panchayat by rotation in alphabetical order : Member
xvii)    Project Director, D. R. D. A. : Member Secretary

In the case of West Tripura District, the Executive Officer, Agartala Municipal Council will also be a Member.

3.7 The functions of the District committee will be as follows :-

i. Assessment of unemployment scenario, both among the educated and others;
ii. Assessment of skill levels available with the unemployed;
iii. Assessment of scenario of the available resources, manpower, capital, skill etc. and preparation of status report.;
iv. Identify key activities and area based clusters as well as activity clusters for taking up self employment projects;
v. Preparation of the annual self-employment plan, taking into account the infrastructure, needs and resources;
vi. Invite applications from those who are interested in skill development and self-employment from the selected area and activity clusters. (The application form seeking self employment will be standardized in all areas);
vii. Give final approval for the list of persons selected for skill up-gradation and arrange to give training for imparting skill or up-gradation of skill for the selected unemployed;
viii. Tie up Bank credit for the selected entrepreneurs;
ix. Monitor progress of training/skill up-gradation through the line Departments/ institutions and implementation of the Schemes for self employment;
x. Arrange backward and forward linkages by identification of sources, disseminating information and creating awareness.

3.8 The Committee shall meet at least twice in a year for review and monitoring of the programme. The Notifications in this respect were issued vide No. F.2(1)-CS/I&C(SEP)/2000 dated 29-3-2001.

3.9 At the district level there will be an Executive Committee consisting of the following members:-

i) District magistrate & Collector : Chairman
ii) General Manager, DIC : Member
iii) Lead Bank Officer :  Member
iv) Representative of NABARD : Member
v) Representative of Tripura Gramin Bank : Member
vi) Representative of Tripura State Coop. Bank :  Member
vii) Representative of UBI :  Member
viii) Representative of SBI : Member
ix) Representative of Agartala Coop. Urban Bank : Member
x) Representative of Land Development Bank : Member
xi) District Officer of the Youth Affairs & Sports Department : Member
xii)    Project Director, DRDA : Member Secretary

3.10 The Executive Committee shall exercise such powers and functions as are entrusted to it by the District committee or in the bye laws.

3.11 The Committee shall meet at least once in each quarter. The Notifications in this respect were issued vide No. F.2(1)-CS/I&C(SEP)/2000 dated 29-3-2001.

3.12 The DRDA will act as the Secretariat for the District Self Employment Committee. Required officers and staff for this purpose will be provided from the District Administration and from the line Departments as per orders of the Government from time to time.

3.13 The Line Departments, District Officers, Sub-divisional Level Officers and Block level Officers must be fully involved in the Self Employment Programmes. In the activity/area clusters, the District Self Employment committe may direct the Line Departments to assign responsibilities for overseeing the implementation of the schemes and such instruction shall be binding upon the Line Department. Government Orders will be issued to suitably and effectively link DICs in the districts with the DRDAs.

3.14 At the State level, the Government will appoint a Nodal Officer. The Nodal Officer will be the Chief Executive of the Self Employment Generation Programme. He is mandated to co-ordinate, capacitate, organize and ensure that the objectives of the Scheme are effectively translated into action and directions of the State level body and Executive Committee are complied and implemented by the District bodies and line Departments. The Nodal Officer will also be entrusted with the responsibility to perform state level functions as per decisions and instructions of the State Level Body and its Executive Committee.

3.15 The Nodal Officer shall be responsible to tie up with organisations inside and out side the State for skill improvement, technology transfer and good management practice. He will also advocate, capacitate and create conducive environment for self-employment of unemployed by expanding livelihood choices.

3.16 The Nodal Officer shall be provided with adequate staff support, equipment and fund to discharge his responsibilities.

 4.   TARGET GROUPS

4.1 The Target Groups under the programme will be the unemployed youth belonging to both BPL/APL families who have aptitude, interest and commitment to become potential entrepreneurs. Educated unemployed, especially those who have crossed the upper age limit for government jobs or at the threshold, may be given priority. The persons who are involved in some income generation activities, but whose incomes are marginal and are in urgent need of up-gradation of skill to become potential entrepreneurs, may also be included as the target groups. Although achievement of any fixed target/quota is not rigidly insisted upon under the programme, yet while selection of potential candidates, desired preference and weightage should be given for the candidates belonging to ST/SC/OBC/Woman subject to fulfillment of other objectives/conditions.

 5. IDENTIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES

5.1 Activities should be identified keeping in view local resources, market demands, aptitude and interest of the entrepreneurs, availability of linkages, required capital and contribution of entrepreneurs. The emphasis under this programme should be in terms of increasing productivity and quality for achieving gainful self-employment with a view to generate adequate income and should not aim at mere achievement of targets.

5.2 Although a few activities were indicated, below, in each sector, the paramount principles for identification of activity for a potential entrepreneur would be (a ) economic viability and (b) choice of entrepreneur.

5.3 Keeping the above points in view, a list of activities is indicated below which may be considered by the District Level Self Employment Bodies for this programme:-

i) Agriculture & Allied sector - Rubber cultivation, mushroom cultivation, betel vine cultivation, aricanut plantation, floriculture, tea plantation, orchard, poultry, duckery, piggery, pisciculture, certified seed production, seedling production, feed production units for poultry, cattle and pig.
ii) Industries & Commerce - Handloom, handicrafts, sericulture, food processing, repairing units for irrigation pumps, power tillers and agri equipments, bamboo processing units, carpentry units, IT units, shoe making, catering service, readymade garments, computer, mechanical & electrical trades, and production of other items which have assured demand in Government departments/ market.
iii) Miscellaneous activities - Such activities may cover only a few entrepreneurs having special skills in select locations. The area is kept open to suit special needs and requirements.
5.4 The above list is not exhaustive but indicative only. The District Level Bodies may consider inclusion of other activities/trades.

6. IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF ENTREPRENEUR

6.1 For selection of entrepreneurs, applications will be invited from the intending candidates. While issuing advertisement, names of the common activities identified by the District Level Committee to be covered under the programme may be mentioned for convenience of the applicants. It may also be mentioned that the programme aims at providing self employment and those who will be selected and sponsored under the programme should have full commitment to become a potential entrepreneurs instead of waiting for government jobs. The applications shall be made in prescribed format, which will cover required details of the candidate and his/her declaration. A format for this purpose is given at Annexure-A. This can be used as it is or after suitable modification.

6.2 The applications received will be scrutinized, sorted and verified, a list of candidates will be prepared and they will be called for a personal interview within 30 days. A committee headed by a senior officer (selected by the District Executive Committee) with Lead Bank Officer, concerned Bank Manager in whose service area village/villages fall, concerned Sub Divisional officer of the Line Department connected with the scheme in question will take the personal interview.

6.3 The Committee will prepare a list of potential entrepreneurs after interview in an objective manner duly identifying proficiency and gaps in skills. The identified list of potential entrepreneurs will be sent to the District Level Employment Committee immediately after closing of the interview for its preliminary approval. The decision will be conveyed within fifteen days of receipt of proposal from the selection Committee.

6.4 After preliminary approval, the selected candidates will again be called for preparing a detailed project proposal an assessment will be made of the contribution that the selected entrepreneur can provide to supplement requirement of capital, requirement of finance for the selected activities, backward and forward linkages, identification of financial institution which will provide the finance, etc.

6.5 The District Level Employment committee will simultaneously arrange to identify the persons requiring training in various trades and organise training through Line Department by identifying the suitable training Institution. Duration of training should be long enough for the persons to acquire required skill and proficiency to enable them to stand on their own with confidence.

6.6 There should be complete transparency in the criteria and procedure for selection of beneficiaries. The selection should be purely on professional basis with involvement of bankers, Govt. Departments and District level Self Employment Body.

6.7 In case training Institutes or trainers are not available within the District, the body will inform the Nodal Officer to arrange the same.

6.8 As far as possible, after the selection of an entrepreneur, the processes of project preparation, training, skill improvement and credit/finance should be completed within six months, except in cases where the training is more than four months, from the date of application, to retain the motivation, zeal and commitment of entrepreneur.

 7.  ARRANGEMENT FOR SKILL UPGRADATION

7.1 After identification of key activities, arrangements should be finalised for imparting training for skill up-gradation and development of entrepreneurship. A completely professional approach should be adopted for this purpose. The best available training, in terms of quality, must be provided for skill up- gradation. Although it is preferable to organise such training within the State, with quality trainers (if required to be brought from outside the State), yet for certain activities, training through Institutions outside the State also may be considered. For development of entrepreneurship, the training module may cover financial management, commercial aspects, accounting and marketing. The office of the Nodal Officer will provide required materials and linkages with Line Departments for the purpose. The training modules will be prepared taking following points into consideration:

i. Identification of agency and trainers for imparting training;
ii. Pre-requisite/ eligibility criteria for selection of trainees;
iii. Duration of training;
iv. Preparation and supply of training and course materials;
v. Course content;
vi. Marketing, packaging, financial and administrative management.

7.2 For availing training/skill up-gradation, the selected person will have to provide a token of fee in advance. Such fee will be for Rs. 100/- for candidates, belonging to BPL families and Rs. 250/- for candidate belonging to APL families. The cost of organising and providing training will, however, be borne by the Government.

7.3 To continuously nurture and build up the capacity of the entrepreneurs, Technology Transfer and demonstration Centres will be set up both for technical capacity building and for dissemination of knowledge in an activity/ fields. In these centres efforts will be made to constantly innovate, improve and demonstrate technologies, processes and skills for the larger benefit of civil society.

 8. BACKWARD AND FORWARD LINKAGES

8.1 The District level bodies and Line Departments will also ensure that entrepreneurs selected / trained are given the highest priority in the ongoing self- employment schemes of both State and Central governments without violating any norms. The District level bodies will achieve this synergy between the existing self-employment schemes and the potential entrepreneurs through suitable processes.

8.2 While selection of entrepreneurs and activities forward and backward linkages also need to be finalised. These linkages should be comprehensive covering raw materials, skills, tools and plants, source of financing, marketing of products, etc.

8.3 The important points which need to be considered in this respect are indicated below:

i. Market assessment to ascertain demand of the product which will be produced through the activity;
ii. Realistic project report for the activity including source and collection of raw materials, tools and plants, plan for marketing of products, analysis of cost benefit ratio;
iii. Imparting of training and skill up-gradation;
iv. Source of finance with break-up of own contribution, finance for capital investment, finance for working capital;


                                                                                   Sd/-
                                                                         ( V. Thulasidas )
                                                                         Chief Secretary

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