MSME Minister, K.H Muniyappa on Monday said that ministry has proposed to continue ‘Assistance to Training Institutions’ (ATI) scheme in the 12^th Five Year Plan and a proposal for that has already been sent to Ministry of Finance. The scheme launched in January 2010 is meant to provide support to entrepreneurship training institutes in India to encourage entrepreneurship and thereby generate more employment.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Muniyappa said, “The main objectives of the scheme are development of indigenous entrepreneurship from all walks of life for developing new micro and small enterprises. Also enlarging the entrepreneurial base and encouraging self-employment in rural as well as urban areas, by providing training to first generation entrepreneurs and assisting them in setting up of enterprises.”

“Under the scheme, assistance is provided to national level Entrepreneurship Development Institutes of India (EDIs), namely, National Institute for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises [Ni-MSME], Hyderabad, National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development [NIESBUD], Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship [IIE], Guwahati), and National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and Tool Rooms for conducting entrepreneurship and skill development programmes,” Muniyappa added in his reply. The ATI Scheme is demand-driven under which financial assistance is provided to these EDIs.

On an average 26% to 55% of all trainees were either successful in setting up their enterprises or were able to obtain wage employment under the scheme, Muniyappa further stated.

A budget provision of Rs 102.00 crore has already been made under the scheme for the year 2013-14, the minister added in his reply.