The first cycle of interviews for the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program Phase II (SVEP II) for potential entrepreneurs from Ongpangkong North and Kobulong Blocks was conducted successfully on the 19th and 20th of October at the District Rural Development Office in Mokokchung.
As reported by this newspaper earlier, Minister of Rural Development Metsubo Jamir started the SVEP implemented by Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) under Phase-II in April of this year.
Over the course of two days, more than 35 potential entrepreneurs from Ongpangkong North and Kobulong Blocks underwent interviews after CRP-EP initiated a business platform, which was followed by screening by the Project Approval Committee (PAC).
According to interviewers, selection is solely based on merit, project feasibility, and the candidate’s credibility to effectively execute the project.
They also stated that selected individuals would receive intensive business training, and that the community enterprises fund (credit) application procedure will be completed by November.
According to Tiasenba, State Programme Manager, the aim for 2022-23 is to promote 137 entrepreneurs. He further stated that this is the first cycle and that the following cycle would be a continual process.
The interviewer team included Tiasenba, State Programme Manager (Non-Farm); Temsuyapang, Block Programme Manager SVEP II Ongpangkong & Kubolong Blocks; Kekhrielenvo Piele, Block Programme Manager SVEP II Kohima; Subotola Aier, Block Programme Manager, Kobulong; Rongsenlila, Block Programme Manager, Ongpangkong; Asanaro, Area Coordinator, Non-Farm Livelihoods, Ongpangkong North; Tiakumla Jamir, Area Coordinator, Non-Farm Livelihoods, Kobulong Block; and Financial Inclusion District Mission Management Unit (District Coordinator) Mongchen.
The loan is to be repaid over a period of three years at a 12 percent annual interest rate, with the CRP-EP monitoring and providing hand-holding support for six months and the SVEP Team monitoring monthly.
The objective of SVEP is to enable rural poor people to set up enterprises by establishing a sustainable model for village entrepreneurship using integrated ICT techniques and tools for training and capacity building, enterprise consulting services, and financing from banks, SHGs, and federations.