NSIC to launch 250 incubators in five years

With the object of developing new small enterprises, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), has initiated a programme whereby it is setting up incubators for aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own ventures.

An incubator works by way of providing support-services like practical training on new machines or projects, preparing reports, seeking government approvals, identification and procurement of plant and machinery, helping to access credit facilities, and providing market support among others.

"Development of small enterprises is one of the thrust areas of NSIC. Given that the non-availability of loan or credit facility is a major constraint for these small businesses apart from the lack of technical know-how, we felt the need for an integrated support structure. As a result, we came up with this programme," H P Kumar, chairman, NSIC said.

One such incubator is already operational in Delhi. Spread over 8000 square meters, it facilitates low-cost projects like manufacturing of bricks, candles, soya milk, paper napkin etc.

The work on one incubator in Guwahati and another in Kolkata is in progress. NSIC plans to set up 250 such incubators across the country by 2012 at the cost of Rs 70 lakh per incubator.

The duration of the programme is three months with four weeks of practical on-the-job training. Each batch size comprises 30 students and anyone aspiring to become an entrepreneur can become a part of this programme.

According to Kumar, while there are different organisations for different services, none of the organisations have been providing all these services under one roof.

"Various Entrepreneurship Development Institutes are providing classroom training, but the trainee, after the completion of the module, has to approach other organisations for information on sourcing of raw materials, machinery, credit facilities and others function. Even then, people who have set up their enterprise face problems in marketing their output. Therefore, we designed this programme so that such problems could be solved under one roof," Kumar added.