The Telangana government has made strides in promoting entrepreneurship through its new Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) policy. The policy aims to support marginalized groups, including SCs, STs, BCs, and women, by providing financial incentives, tax exemptions, and skill development programs. While these measures are commendable for fostering entrepreneurship, the glaring omission of provisions for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) is a serious setback. In a state where over 5.28 lakh disabled voters and 10 lakh people rely on disability pensions, this exclusion is both a missed opportunity and a violation of their rights.

What the Policy Offers to Marginalized Groups
The current MSME policy offers substantial benefits to SCs, STs, BCs, and women, continuing and expanding upon the efforts of previous governments. These groups enjoy the following advantages:

Subsidy on Fixed Capital Investment: Entrepreneurs from SC/ST/BC/Women categories can avail of a 15% subsidy on fixed capital investments, with a maximum cap of ₹30 lakhs.

Interest Subsidy: They are also eligible for an interest subsidy of 3% per annum on term loans up to ₹2 crore, applicable for a period of five years.

Tax Benefits: The government offers a 100% reimbursement of SGST for five years, capped at ₹1 crore per year, along with stamp duty exemptions and a power tariff subsidy of ₹1 per unit.

Land Allotment and Concessions: SC/ST/BC/Women entrepreneurs are provided 25% subsidies on land in industrial parks, with a typical land allocation of up to 10 acres.

Marketing and Export Support: Entrepreneurs receive 50% subsidies on the cost of participation in national and international trade fairs, as well as branding and packaging support up to ₹10 lakh per unit.

These measures are a continuation of previous government policies, with enhanced subsidies, interest relief, and tax benefits. However, these initiatives remain focused on specific marginalized groups, completely ignoring the disabled community, leaving a critical gap in the policy framework.

Neglect of Persons with Disabilities: An Overlooked Community
While SCs, STs, BCs, and women have been rightfully prioritized, the absence of support for disabled entrepreneurs is striking. Despite the 2016 Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act mandating equal opportunities for PwDs, Telangana’s MSME policy does not include any provisions to empower disabled individuals to become entrepreneurs.

This oversight is even more concerning given that Telangana already has an entrepreneurial ecosystem with 50 incubators providing mentorship, skills training, networking opportunities, and access to investors. However, none of these incubators are designed to cater to the specific needs of disabled entrepreneurs. The disabled community, already facing barriers such as stigma, lack of awareness, and inaccessible infrastructure, is left to navigate a system that is not built for them.

Moreover, disabled individuals running small businesses are now finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their operations without any targeted financial aid or policy support. This exclusion is particularly harmful in an environment where entrepreneurship could be a powerful tool for economic empowerment for PwDs.

Discrimination and Barriers in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Telangana, while thriving for many, remains largely inaccessible to the disabled community. Some of the key challenges include:

Stigma and underestimation: Society often underestimates the capabilities of disabled individuals, doubting their ability to manage or scale businesses.

Lack of accessible infrastructure: Co-working spaces, startup hubs, and incubators often fail to consider accessibility, making it difficult for disabled entrepreneurs to participate.

Financial challenges: Disabled entrepreneurs face higher costs related to assistive technologies, adaptive infrastructure, and the general societal barriers that add friction to their business operations.

These challenges are compounded by a lack of targeted government support, pushing disabled individuals further into economic marginalization. Without subsidies, grants, or dedicated incubators, the MSME policy effectively closes doors on an entire community that is already struggling for economic independence.

Missed Opportunities for Inclusive Growth
The exclusion of PwDs from Telangana’s MSME policy is not only a social injustice but also a missed economic opportunity. Studies show that businesses owned by disabled individuals can drive employment, innovation, and local development, especially when they employ other marginalized individuals, including PwDs. By ignoring the needs of disabled entrepreneurs, Telangana is missing out on harnessing their potential to contribute to the state’s economic growth.

If the government took steps to create incubators specifically for disabled entrepreneurs and offered financial incentives similar to those provided to SC/ST/BC/Women entrepreneurs, the private sector and other institutions would likely follow suit. Creating a disability-inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem could open doors for thousands of disabled individuals to participate in economic activities, reducing their dependency on government pensions and increasing their economic independence.

The Way Forward: A Call for Disability-Inclusive Policies
The Telangana government has the opportunity to correct this oversight by revising its MSME policy to include targeted initiatives for disabled entrepreneurs. This could include:

Financial Support: Offering subsidies and grants tailored to the unique costs faced by disabled entrepreneurs, such as assistive technologies and accessible workspaces.

Dedicated Incubators: Establishing incubators that cater specifically to the needs of disabled individuals, offering mentorship, skills development, and access to investors in an inclusive environment.

Awareness Programs: Educating investors, business leaders, and the broader startup community about the potential and capabilities of disabled entrepreneurs to reduce stigma and increase support.

Infrastructure Support: Ensuring that industrial parks, co-working spaces, and other business hubs are physically accessible and offer digital tools for entrepreneurs with sensory disabilities.

By implementing these changes, Telangana can ensure that no community is left behind in its push for economic development. Inclusive policies are not just about meeting legal obligations under the RPWD Act; they are also about creating a fair and just entrepreneurial ecosystem where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Conclusion
Telangana’s MSME policy offers significant benefits to SC/ST/BC/Women entrepreneurs, promoting inclusive growth in many respects. However, the complete exclusion of Persons with Disabilities from this policy is a critical failure. In a state with 5.28 lakh disabled voters and 10 lakh disability pensioners, the government cannot afford to overlook this community.

As the state continues to develop its entrepreneurial ecosystem, it must take concrete steps to ensure that disabled entrepreneurs are supported, not forgotten. With the right policies in place, Telangana can become a model of inclusive growth, proving that economic development leaves no one behind.