Godrej Group chairman Adi Godrej came away impressed by the variety and sophistication of businesses at the two-day Dalit Trade Fair 2011 held here. Ratan Tata came, saw and conquered, fuelling more aspirations in the Dalit entrepreneur community and leaving many more inspired. ?It is a big statement,? says NK Chandan, president of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), which organised the fair, referring to Tata?s presence.

But Dalit entrepreneurs have already made a statement with their achievements, not only building profitable businesses, but also providing employment to others. Their number and sales are growing by leaps and bounds. The number of companies attending DICCI?s second trade fair has quadrupled to 200, with sales as high as R1,200 crore from R50 crore last year in Pune.

Santosh Shinde, 41, director at Pune-based SP Engineers, which makes small parts for auto component makers, found his inspiration in Reliance founder late Dhirubhai Ambani. ?I was inspired by Ambani when I started my business in 2003 by investing my savings of R35,000,? he says. Now, he runs two firms with 26 employees and aspires to have a R100-crore turnover by 2017 from the R4 crore now.

But Dalit businessman Sharvan Singh, 37, owner of footwear company Jiya Enterprises, wishes they could get government support to promote their brands. He started his venture in 2003 with R10,000 borrowed from friends, However, he is at crossroads today as he is unable to avail growth finance despite R1-crore sales last year. Inspired by Dell founder Michael Saul Dell?s book Direct from Dell, Singh wishes he could take his company to the next league. ?Banks are not willing to fund us,? rues Singh at his stall at the fair. ?The government should promote our companies by purchasing from us as it is expensive to promote our brands.?

?Dalit businessmen have to start from scratch as they do not inherit wealth, unlike traditional businessmen from the baniya community,? adds Chandan. ?A loan of R10 lakh may be available, but banks ask for collaterals and guarantee for bigger loans. So, many Dalit businessmen end up in subsidy-aided industries like pickle, basket and incense stick makers.?

Agrees professor Prabal Sen of XLRI, Kolkata, The government should start a special window for start-ups by encouraging venture funding or angel investing. Start-up funding and networking are critical to successful entrepreneurship.?

This is especially true as many central government sponsored schemes routed through state government agencies are throttled by bottlenecks and red tape. The funds from National Scheduled Caste finance and Development Corporation, National Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporation and National Minority Development Corporation are channelised through state governments.

?I tore my R1-lakh loan proposal to build a fabrication plant after a delay of four months,? says P Satheesh, MD, Panchratna Enterprises, Mysore. He had applied under a scheme for Dalit businessmen. ?I have to give bribes to be eligible to apply for loans,? he says.

But they are not giving up. ?We have given a proposal to the planning commission for the government to invest in Dalit-owned firms as growth capital and share profits instead of giving subsidy and grants,? says Chandan of DICCI. ?The dialogue with the government has already started.?