No direct financial support for new industries under ESDP

Minister of State for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje has clarified that the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) does not provide direct financial support for setting up new industries.
Responding to a query from MPs Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) and Daggumalla Prasada Rao in the Lok Sabha, she stated in a written reply that the scheme focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship promotion rather than direct funding.
The MPs had sought details on the number of industrialists trained under ESDP over the past five years, the number of women entrepreneurs among them, and the new enterprises approved under the scheme.
According to the Minister, 17,883 aspiring industrialists received training under ESDP in Andhra Pradesh during this period, including 10,003 women. She emphasized that the scheme aims to support entrepreneurs, particularly from marginalized communities, including SCs, STs, women, differently-abled individuals, and economically weaker sections.
Karandlaje reiterated that while ESDP encourages entrepreneurship, it does not offer financial aid for starting new ventures. Instead, it focuses on equipping individuals with skills to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities.