SC, ST cluster to come up in Dharwad’s Kelageri

HUBBALLI: Here is good news for entrepreneurs belonging to Dalit and Adivasi communities of

Dharwad

district. Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (

KIADB

) will establish an exclusive cluster for SC-ST entrepreneurs at Kelageri

industrial area

in Dharwad.

KIADB is forming the cluster at an estimated cost of Rs 7.89 crore to encourage Dalit and Adivasi entrepreneurs to scale up their operations. The creation of the exclusive cluster is expected to help entrepreneurs of these communities as they need not compete with other community entrepreneurs to get land to establish industries of their choice.

T V Sathish, deputy development officer and assistant executive engineer at KIADB Dharwad zonal office, told TOI that the plan is being prepared to allot plots to SC-ST entrepreneurs. “Since the

Kelageri

industrial area is surrounded by educational institutions and residences, green industries will be established in the industrial area as other industries may cause pollution and cause inconvenience to people living around,” added Sathish.

The green industries which will be established include food, fabrication and others. KIADB sources said that though there is reservation in allotment of plots to SC-ST entrepreneurs, the exclusive cluster will boost entrepreneurship among the people of oppressed classes.

A L Gorebal, a retired assistant general manager of Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) and honorary president of Uttara Karnataka Parishishta Pangadagala Uddimedarara Sangha said that there is 50% subsidy on land cost for both SC-ST entrepreneurs and the KSFC provides them loans at 4% interest. “Although the cluster will further help SC-ST entrepreneurs, most of the benefits are reaped by those who are economically sound in the communities while those who are economically weak struggle to start their own industries. Such entrepreneurs should be given priority in the proposed clusters,” he added.

Ningappa Woderhalli, an industrialist, said the governments have been encouraging SC-ST entrepreneurs but the cluster will further help entrepreneurs of these communities to come forward and start their own business.