Dalit trade fair: A celebration of pursuit

Mumbai: The second such fair exclusively for Dalit traders was organised today by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dicci).

The event was, however, much more than a fair. It was an exhibition of the business prowess of the Dalits entrepreneurs, a celebration of the journey they have made.

The chief guest of the function was Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group. In choosing him to grace the event, the organisers portrayed their aspiration of being on the same footing as the Tatas and Godrejs of India, who come with a long family history in entrepreneurship.

[caption id=“attachment_158470” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Milind Kamble, the chairman of Dicci. Screengrab/dicci.org”]  [/caption]

As Milind Kamble, the chairman of Dicci told Firstpost, “We are first generation entrepreneurs with no history of business unlike most family businesses today in India. So we have come together to support each other, promote, network and market Dalit businesses aggressively.”

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Kamble explains that the big business houses are the ones which can provide the guidance to those involved in small aspiring enterprises. The three-day fair has presentations and seminars lined up by big business houses to explain what it needs to be a vendor or a supplier for them.

The new generation of Dalit entrepreneurs has nothing against reservation for SC and STs, nor is it scornful of the “upper caste.” They realise that success has come only to a handful, the rest still need government support.

The fair was a recognition of the fact that these Dalit businessmen had come so far on merit and not on the back of reservation in different institutions. And they were equal contributors to the nation’s growth, reflected in the taxes they paid.

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It does not stop just there. As Kamble explained, all Dicci members have to follow what they call DSR or Dalit Social Responsibility by which all Dalit entrepreneurs must give back a part of their profit to the enhancement of the backward castes.

As Adi Godrej put it, “What is more inspiring is a lot of these businesses are involved in training and skill building. The major problem in India is not just unemployment but ‘unemployability’. And entrepreneurship is key to India as all of us cannot just ask for jobs but need to provide jobs.”

There are challenges to be met though. Ashok Karne, promoter of Maitreyee hydro systems, a company that makes sauna and steam bath pumps with a turnover of around Rs 35 lakh said funding remained the major issue.

Bank loans are tough to get as most Dalits are also financially weak and do not have the required collaterals.

Kamble admits, “Access to debt and capital markets remains the biggest impediment that needs to be overcome.”

Dicci is now planning to launch its own venture capital fund in 2012 to help its members.

The trade fair went much beyond being just a platform for networking and showcasing the businesses to potential clients.

As Chandrabhan Prasad, a noted Dalit writer said at the inauguration, “There was a time when we were not allowed to use umbrellas when we walked even in heat. This exhibition is a celebration of where we started and where we have come.” It indeed was.