Key Features:

• Support for new enterprises in rural areas: training, mentoring, and hand-holding until stabilisation.

• Access to finance: seed capital from the community investment fund (CIF) and linkages to bank credit.

• Creation of local support structure: Block Resource Centres (BRCs) + Community Resource Persons (CRP-EP) for local mentoring and monitoring.

• Emphasis on inclusive entrepreneurship: strong focus on women entrepreneurs, SC/ST/OBC communities. For example: around 75% of enterprises under SVEP are women-owned.

• Monitoring & tracking via IT systems: digital workflows to support enterprise tracking and appraisal.

Eligibility & Who Can Apply

For business owners in rural areas, here are the key eligibility and practical requirements:

• You must be located in a rural block where SVEP is active (blocks are selected for SVEP projects).

• Priority is given to: women, SC/ST, OBC communities, rural artisans, individuals from vulnerable households (including those linked to MGNREGA) who are willing to take up enterprise.

• You’ll need to prepare a business plan/project report (for enterprise promotion) and work with community institutions (SHGs, federations) for endorsement.

• Note: The enterprise must be in the non‐farm sector, i.e., trades outside traditional agriculture.

Application & Implementation Process (for Business Owners)

Here’s how the process generally works:

1. In the selected block, the SHG network / SRLM identifies potential entrepreneurs.

2. A baseline survey, selection of CRP-EP (community cadre) and setting up of BRC happens.

3. You as the entrepreneur submit your enterprise proposal/business plan via the Block Resource Centre with required documentation.

4. You receive hand-holding support at the start (i.e., mentoring for first 6 months) and assistance in getting linked to finance (CIF + bank) and market.

5. The enterprise is monitored periodically by CRP-EP/BRC until stabilisation.

Financial Terms & What Business Owners Should Know

• While detailed national level subsidy/loan amounts may vary state to state, SVEP provides seed capital via Community Investment Fund (CIF) to help start the business and then facilitates bank finance.

• Enterprises under SVEP have shown strong uptake: e.g., over 3,13,000 enterprises supported to date across 429 blocks in 31 states/UTs.

• Strong inclusion stats: ~82% of entrepreneurs from SC/ST/OBC categories and 75% women‐owned enterprises in SVEP blocks.

• Business owners should check: what finance component (loan + equity/seed) is available in their block, what reporting/monitoring mechanisms apply, what timeline for stabilisation is expected.

Why It Matters for You as a Business Owner

• If you are in a rural area and looking to start or expand a non-farm business, SVEP offers a structured support system (mentoring + finance) rather than just a one-time grant.

• It helps reduce the risk of failure by providing on-ground support, making business setup more feasible.

• It gives you access to a local network (CRP-EP, BRC) which can help with local market/operations issues, which many rural entrepreneurs struggle with.

• Because the scheme emphasises inclusion, there can be favourable assessment if you belong to a target group (women, SC/ST/OBC or vulnerable household).

Important Considerations for Business Owners

• Confirm whether your block is part of SVEP implementation in your state/zone (not all rural blocks are automatically covered).

• Your business plan should clearly show how the enterprise will become viable (revenue, cost, employment, market).

• Make sure you are prepared for monitoring: SVEP emphasises follow-up and support, so you should be ready to engage with the CRP-EP/BRC.

• Understand the finance linkage: seed capital + bank loan may be involved — check interest rates, repayment terms in your state.

• Non-farm means you should propose a business activity outside traditional agriculture, and preferably with local market potential.

• Benefit from the inclusion priority but don’t assume guarantee: you still need to meet quality of proposal and vetting.