New policies for women, rural entrepreneurs on anvil in Tamil Nadu: Official

CHENNAI: The country's startup ecosystem is very urban-centric and male-centric and with a view to bring in equity, the TN government is working on a specific policy to help promote women-led and rural communities-oriented startups, TN MSME secretary Arun Roy said on Thursday.
The policies will help provide more entrepreneurship opportunities among women and also focus on deep tech ventures that have impact and use in rural areas. Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation mission (Tansim) has set up regional hubs to address this issue, he noted.
Roy was speaking at CII's Startup Conclave held in Chennai, where he cited a series of steps taken by the state govt to promote the startup ecosystem. He also mentioned the emerging sector seed fund, exceptions made for government procurement from startups, loan schemes under the MSME credit guarantee scheme, and other MSME subsidies that will also apply to startups as a few measures.
"The first four or five investments out of the emerging sector seed fund are ready to be made; a new green climate fund is also in the works and is awaiting approval," Roy said. Despite its level of industrialisation and overall economic performance, TN's startup ecosystem has catching up to do with Bengaluru and Delhi," he said.