AUG 15: Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, along with the Minister of State for MSME, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, hosted a special lunch in New Delhi today for beneficiaries of the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) scheme who were invited by the Government of India as ‘Special Guests’ to witness the Independence Day Ceremony 2025 at the Red Fort. The guests were accompanied by their spouses and were welcomed warmly at the residence of the Union Minister.
Shri S. C. L. Das, Secretary, MSME, and Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, MSME, welcomed the guests and applauded their determination and contribution to the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. Senior officials from the Ministry of MSME were also present to greet and interact with the invitees.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi expressed his happiness in honouring SC/ST entrepreneurs and acknowledged their growing contribution to the national economy. He recalled that the National SC-ST Hub scheme was launched in October 2016 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to create a supportive ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs and to promote procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs as mandated under the Public Procurement Policy. He emphasised that the MSME sector will play a vital role in achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat and said the Ministry is taking several steps to help the sector grow in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Sushri Shobha Karandlaje called upon the entrepreneurs to continue striving for excellence and work collectively towards the goal of a developed nation by 2047. She reiterated the Ministry’s strong commitment to the development of MSMEs through a range of dedicated schemes and programmes.
The “Special Guests,” who came from various rural and urban areas across the country—including the North-Eastern States and Union Territories—also shared their inspiring entrepreneurial journeys and thanked the Government for recognising their contributions and giving them the opportunity to be part of the Independence Day celebrations.
, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, along with the Minister of State for MSME,){kind=link}