DICCI Seminar on Food Processing Industries – Opportunities for Scheduled Caste Entrepreneurs

 

DICCI Seminar on Food Processing Industries – Opportunities for Scheduled Caste Entrepreneurs

The Punjab Chapter of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) in cooperation with Ministry of Food Processing Industries of the Government of India hosted a one day Conference on Opportunities for SC/ST Entrepreneurs in Food Processing

Industries at Jalandhar on March 27, 2023. DICCI is an apex chamber to promote and facilitate dalit entrepreneurs with a view to establish an integrated and inclusive society in an equitable socio-economic order in the country and the society at large as visualised
by forefathers headed by Babasaheb Ambedkar. The website of DICCI, inter alia, states the purpose and motto of the Chamber, “The Pune-based Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) was established in 2005 by Milind Kamble, a civil engineer and entrepreneur. While Mr. Kamble is currently the Chairman, the organization has grown with the help of 29 state chapters & 7 International Chapters. Its membership base is rapidly expanding as more Dalit entrepreneurs become aware of its activities and what it can offer them.

The activities of its members are quite diversified ranging from manufacturing (sectors such as chemicals, agri-products, frozen foods, plastics, textiles, pest control, metals and metallurgy, marine engineering, solar energy, sugar refining), construction and services (health care, hospitality industries, education and international trade).

DICCI’s tag line explains its philosophy and its raison d’être:
Be Job Givers – Not Job Seekers”. I feel happy in adding that Milind Kamle, Padam Shri Recipient is a dedicated social and educational activist, an acquaintance of ‘understanding and respect’. DICCI is doing an excellent service to the deprived and marginalized sections of the society.

The One-day event in Jalandhar was a well organized function on the theme “Opportunities for SC/ST Entrepreneurs in the Food Processing Industries. I participated in the function as a Guest of Honour, courtesy my friend Tilak Khinder. National Head of Sports and Allied Industries of DICCI and Head of the Punjab Chapter of the apex body, Rajesh Kumar. In the inaugural session, Tilak Khinder welcoming the guests and business participants said that they, under

Addressing the inaugural session

the aegis of DICCI, were trying their best to encourage and facilitate dalit businesses to join the main stream of the society. Referring to my diplomatic career and experience, I said in my brief remarks that DICCI was doing a wonderful job helping, facilitating and motivating the SC/ST businesspersons and cajoling them to stand up as equal partners and stake holders in the development of the society while earning their bread and butter with dignity.  It was a matter of satisfaction that more and more young business aspirants were joining DICCI and rightly so.

The Technical Session were all the more educative and informative – Charu Verma and Amit Kumar of SIDBI in their presentations informed about the facilities and services of SIDBI with regard to the SC/ST intended beneficiaries, Dr. Puneet Sharma of NSIC informed about the MSME, NSIC and SC/ST Hub activities with special reference to help SC/ST clients and informed that they help the SC/ST companies to participate in Exhibitions and Trade Fairs both within in India and abroad. It was also informed that they even help SC/ST business in Tendering for the Government procurements and also financial help to SC/STT students in pursuing higher education, Eisha Jassal of PAIC, Anubha Garg of Punjab Agro Export Corporation, Sunil Arora of Punjab Grameen Bank, M.R. Salan of Polytechnic Training Centre gave useful presentations and informed the attentive audience about the their activities and facilities with regard to entertaining SC/ST clients. Some of the interactive interventions by K.D. Singh, Chairman of Punjab Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Baldev Bhardwaj of Ambedkar Mission Society and a prominent social activist among other, made the session live and interesting for the benefit of the participants.

The closing session of the one-day conference was addressed by Hon’ble Punjab Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, a well-meaning and

With Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak

socially dedicated politician. He informed about the two forthcoming agro-centers – one at Pathankot for Litchis and second at Hoshiarpur for Kinnows and promised all possible help to young entrepreneurs not only in the Food Processing Sector but otherwise too.  

The function was concluded with the Vote of Thanks by Tilak Khinder who was also one of the Senior Coordinators of the Conference. This narration will not be complete if I don’t mention Rajesh Kumar and Jagdish Dalia who ably steered the function with flair and style. With this, I take this opportunity to wish DICCI and the young SC/ST business aspirants all the best wishes in the days to come.