NAMCHI: An awareness workshop on UNNATI-2024 and other North Eastern Region (NER) schemes was organised today by the Commerce and Industries Department at Officers Club, Namchi on Wednesday.
The programme was aimed to inform aspiring entrepreneurs and the general public about government initiatives available to support business development in Sikkim.
Minister for Urban Development Department (UDD) and Food & Civil Supplies Department Bhoj Raj Rai attended the event as the chief guest.
In his address, Bhoj Raj Rai stated that the workshop was part of a broader departmental effort to promote entrepreneurship across the state in line with the Chief Minister’s vision of “One Family, One Entrepreneur.”
He pointed out that many people continue to seek government jobs over self-employment, and encouraged a shift towards self-reliance through entrepreneurship. He discussed how entrepreneurial ventures can contribute to personal growth as well as generate employment.
He urged residents to support the ‘vocal for local’ initiative, stating that economic opportunities should primarily benefit people from Sikkim. He mentioned that in the long term, these policies would help strengthen local businesses.
He also spoke about the availability of subsidised loans under the schemes, which could go up to Rs 50 crores, and advised interested individuals to visit the respective district offices for further inquiries. He called upon attendees to lead by example, so that others may be encouraged to follow a similar path.
Zilla Adhakshya Anjeeta Rajalim encouraged participants to utilise the various schemes provided by the government and to develop business skills that support long-term economic growth. She noted that while taking risks is part of entrepreneurship, loan repayment should not be neglected. She asked attendees to take full advantage of the information shared during the workshop.
Joint Secretary Commerce and Industries department Gopal K Chettri gave a keynote address explaining the core features of the UNNATI Scheme. He spoke about how the scheme is designed to support both the establishment of new enterprises and the expansion of existing ones in Sikkim.
Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Santosh Shaw, UNNATI gave a detailed presentation on the scheme’s components. His session included information on the thrust sectors, operational guidelines, and financial incentives provided under UNNATI. He also outlined the objectives of the Sikkim Industrial and Investment Policy, 2024, and answered questions from attendees during the interactive session.
Additional presentations were conducted on the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprise (PMFME) scheme. These sessions explained eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, the application process, and the role of District Industries Centres (DICs).
The programme also included a practical segment on banking procedures for applicants and a detailed credit counselling session. During the concluding part of the event, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to ask questions and receive direct responses from officials.
The workshop was also attended by officials and staff from various departments, entrepreneurs and local people.
- IPR Report
