Central Public Sector Enterprise National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) has enhanced entrepreneurship, self-employment, and socio-economic conditions for eligible Scheduled Caste individuals through its credit-based schemes. A significant 93.34% of beneficiaries effectively utilized the financial aid for its intended purposes, showcasing the efficiency of NSFDC’s lending mechanisms and monitoring systems. Moreover, 93.54% of beneficiaries still retain the assets acquired through NSFDC assistance, indicating the sustainability and productive utilization of loans provided under various programs.
The report reveals that 8.98% of beneficiaries surpassed the annual family income threshold of Rs 3 lakh. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in the proportion of beneficiaries falling within the annual family income bracket of Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, rising from 32.61% to 46.28% with the aid provided. Furthermore, the percentage of beneficiaries with annual incomes below Rs 1.50 lakh decreased from 67.39% to 44.74%, while 81.30% of beneficiaries noted an enhancement in their social status, as stated by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
The assistance extended by NSFDC has significantly boosted self-employment among beneficiaries, escalating from 46.62% to 73.95%. Particularly noteworthy is the increase in non-agricultural self-employment activities, which surged from 35.64% to 59.42%. Out of 705 women initially identified as homemakers, 674 transitioned to self-employment post-receiving financial aid.
A substantial 58% of respondents reported a marked improvement in their social status, with an additional 23% indicating moderate progress. Overall, more than 81% of beneficiaries acknowledged the positive contribution of NSFDC schemes towards their social and economic betterment. The study, conducted by M/s Development Oriented Operations Research and Surveys (DOORS) during FY26, encompassed 5,480 beneficiaries across eleven states and Union Territories from 2021 to 2024.
