Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund supports Kani Tribal Women

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 7 February 2024

With the support of the initiative Startup TN, a group of Kani Tribal Women who run Nanjil Kani Women Creators Pvt. Ltd. in the Kanniyakumari district have been granted funds under the Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund. The funds raised will be used to improve their community's supply of pepper and honey. They also aim to set up a packaging department. At present, they can only hold a small customer base through a physical store. Still, they are gradually becoming ready to sell their distinctive honey with extra value online to reach a wider audience. Ginger, pepper, and moringa flavors are blended into this unique honey. The community's overall level of living and means of livelihood are expected to rise with increasing sales and purchases.

The Tamil Nadu government introduced the Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund to solve the prevalent issue of financial exclusion that Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs experience. The fund's objective is to provide funding to creative, scalable enterprises that are owned entirely by members of the SC/ST communities. The candidate must meet the requirements of the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Policy regarding what constitutes a startup. One or more members of the SC/ST community must own more than 50% of the equity in the business or venture. The SC/ST shareholders should hold ultimate authority over the corporation or enterprise.