Dalit MSMEs have paid Rs 13,500 crores direct taxes: DICCI
Nagpur Today: While addressing a press meet recently Chairman of DICCI Padmashree Milind Kamble said that it is for the first time after 60 years of Independence that the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) has tried to dissipate the misconception prevailing in the society that people from the SC/ST category have made stupendous progress because they are enjoying all the fruits of reservation. DICCI has brought to light some facts after a detailed study, which would be an eye-opener for the citizens of the country.
As per the RBI, in the first quarter (Q1) of the current financial year, the GDP of the country was Rs 13.71 lakh crore. “If we go by the Census of 2006-2007, the SC/ST micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have contributed Rs 1.35 lakh crores which is about 10 per cent of the total GDP of the country. This 10 per cent is a remarkable contribution from the SC/ST MSMEs in India,” he said.
After 60 years, the Central and State Governments have offered employment to 50 lakh SC/ST candidates.
Against this, SC/ST entrepreneurs have given employment to 77.45 lakh people showing an appreciation of 27.45 lakh (about 55 per cent). “The capital investment (CAPEX) made by the SC/ST entrepreneurs is Rs 86,904 crore and they have contributed Rs 13,500 crore to the Government’s treasury in the form of direct taxes. However, as per the budgetary allocation, the Union Social Justice Ministry has kept aside a fund of Rs 4,500 crore which is being spent in the form of scholarships and other facilities.
This automatically reflects that the SC/ST entrepreneurs have given Rs 9,000 crore more to the Government,” Kamble pointed out. “No one talks about this real fact, neither the Government, NGO nor any political party. Then why there is a hue and cry that the SC/ST people have progressed just because they are given reservation. Whatever the Government is spending on the SC/ST people are being done from our own pockets. Even, the additional fund of Rs 9,000 crore which is in the form of direct taxes is contributed by us in developing the social infrastructure of the country. No one talks about it,” he noted. “This conference is being organized to tell the Government in general and the people of India in particular that there is no obligation on us.
Reservation is the right enshrined in the Constitution to make the enfeeble people strong. Dalits are the assets in this country,” Kamble stated. Taking this into consideration, it becomes the duty of every Indian to join hands with the Dalit community and push the engine of the country’s growth.
DICCI supports liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG) as it has opened new corridors for Dalits to show their skills.
Kamble added that while designing any programme, the Government should not treat it as a need but should feel that it was addressing the problems of Dalit youth. “Government schemes have failed to boost the morale of the Dalit youth. Now it is high time the Government fulfills the aspirations of the Dalit youth and help them eradicate the disease of poverty and make them self-sufficient,” he suggested. Ten years down the line, after the inception of DICCI, the Government had awakened from the long hibernation and made 4 per cent purchases mandatory from SMEs run by SC/ST in the Procurement Policy. Replying to a query about reservation for jobs in private sector for SC/ST candidates, the Padmashree awardee said that the matter was discussed at great length. In 2006, the Indian Inc and the Government took the decision that an affirmative action would be taken. “Now, 500 Dalit vendors have come into the mainstream and are supplying spare parts and accessories to the corporate world as well as public sector undertakings. We have gone ahead and the corporate world is now partnering with Dalit entrepreneurs,” he said.
Tatas have joined hands with N K Chandan, a Dalit entrepreneur from New Delhi. “We want to see our names in the list of millionaires and billionaires by working with our sweat of brow,” he felt. Talking about the non-cooperative behaviour of the banking industry, Kamble said, “Whenever we approach banks for loans, they ask us to provide collateral security. How we can provide them as collateral security. We are the first generation businessmen. Our forefathers were treated as bonded labourers in this country,” he said. In order to solve this problem to some extent, DICCI has come up with a venture capital fund wherein 100 Dalits can become millionaires. “Empowering the DICCI members is the need of the hour. We respect all the organizations and political parties which are defending the interests of Dalits in the country.
We, as an industry body, i.e. DICCI, will always try to take the chariot of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar further,” he claimed. “We have selected Nagpur for highlighting this issue because Dr Ambedkar had created history on this land. He has flagged off the social transformation movement from Nagpur by taking refuge in Buddhism and liberated us from social bondage,” said Arunkumar Khobragade, Mentor-DICCI, Nagpur Chapter. “Today economics has taken the front seat in every segment of the society and we are rolling out plans to make our members financially sound so that they can contribute in the GDP growth of the country,” said Nishchay Shelke, President of DICCI, Nagpur Chapter. Those present for the press conference were Gopal Wasnik, CA Ashwin Kapse, Abhitabh Meshram, Kiran Meshram and Hemant Ganvir.
