Under the ‘Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh’, the micro-grant amount for each innovative business applicant is up to Euro 10,000 (approximately Rs.3 million)
Sujawal, Sindh
National Rural Support Program (NRSP) is implementing the micro-grants project in Sujawal district, under which the micro-grants would be awarded to individual entrepreneurs as well as lawfully registered business corporations/partnerships of firms for both new business ideas as well as to expand or innovate the running businesses.
The micro-grant amount for each innovative business applicant is up to Euro 10,000 (approximately PKR 3 million), NRSP said in a press release.
NRSP said that the target beneficiaries would include direct grant recipients, employees on the SMEs through job creation, family members of all direct beneficiaries, and general community on the whole benefitting from SMEs produce locally as well as in other cities/ regions where these products may be exported out of project district.
The NRSP regional office Hyderabad and district Sujawal team organized an orientation session on October 16, 2024 regarding ongoing Call for Applications for micro-grants under the ‘Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR)’ project at village Umaid Ali Mallah in union council (UC) Chuhar Jamali and village Mohammad Ali Charo in UC ladiyoon at taluka Chuhar Jamali, district Sujawal. PAIDAR is an EU-funded program which is being implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with NRSP.
The PAIDAR orientation sessions unfolded the procedure for obtaining micro-grants, the requirements, and DOs and DON’Ts which were necessary to help comprehend before submission of the applications by the prospect grantees. Different questions were asked by participants and answers were given with local examples and context during the sessions.
The moderators spelled out an indicative list of potential business trades just to give an idea. However, this is not a binding and any new and innovative business idea would be welcomed based on its feasibility. The potential trades for which grants can be obtained are flour mills/Aata Chaki, tailoring, sewing, & stitching on commercial scale, timber business (legally operated), raw material for garments, charcoal business, motorbike spare parts, construction material, fully equipped tyre puncture shops, handicrafts, bicycle stores, vegetable & fruit stores, motorbike showrooms, junk & trash outlets (Kabaar Khana), IT related businesses (must possess relevant education & experience), value chain industry like tomato ketchup, chili sauce etc., mobile shops with mobile repairing facility, medical stores (valid license & relevant education), easy paisa, Jazz Cash etc. facility with valid license, stationary stores, photocopying etc., meat shop, artificial jewelry, local level transport (Qing Chi rickshaw etc.) – possess valid driving license, garments manufacturing, food business – grocery stores, hotel, burger shops, fast-food etc.
Read: Around 40% Population of Sindh Live Below Poverty Line
It was also emphasized during the sessions that the grants would not be awarded in the four negative list areas: a) infrastructure/ construction, b) subsistence grants, c) grants for non-productive purposes such as purchase of appliances etc., and d) production of agriculture & livestock. The participants were made aware of the application obtaining and submission process. Applications could be obtained by visiting NRSP’s website and it can also obtained and submitted with sealed envelope to NRSP’s district Sujawal office or NRSP RO Hyderabad. The last date for application submission is November 6, 2024.
The sessions were moderated by Ms. Sobia Arain and Mr. Pasha Junaid (Grant Officers, PAIDAR-NRSP Sujawal), and Mr. Furqan Hyder Shaikh (Communication Officer/Coordinator, PAIDAR-NRSP RO Hyderabad). (PR)
Read: Save the Children of Sindh from Stunting
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