The Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Ltd (KSDCSCST)

The KSDC for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Limited) carries out a number of social and income-generating initiatives aimed at fulfilling the requirements and objectives of business owners from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities. The Corporation's schemes can be broadly classified into three categories: (i) sole lending scheme; (ii) schemes implemented in association with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC); and (iii) schemes run by the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC). The Corporation offers a number of income-generating and self-employment schemes, such as Beneficiary-Oriented Schemes, Multi-Purpose Unit Loan, Transport Scheme, Loan to Start-Up Entrepreneurs, Loan for Rehabilitation of Returned Emigrants, Foreign Employment Loan, Micro Credit Finance System, Laghu Vyavasaya Yojana, Loan for Tribal Entrepreneurs, Women Empowerment Program for SHGs, Mahilasamridhi Yojana, Professional Service Schemes, Land Purchase Scheme for Agricultural Laborers, Working Capital Loan to Petroleum Dealers, etc. Social welfare programs include loans for education, foreign education, marriage assistance, housing, and home renovation, among other things. Through programs designed to support Scheduled Castes, the Corporation paid out Rs 109.15 crore in 2024–2025, benefiting 5,445 individuals. Through a variety of programs, 767 Scheduled Tribes beneficiaries received aid totaling Rs 14.19 crore. As of August 31, 2025, 2,043 Scheduled Castes and 343 Scheduled Tribes recipients had received aid year 2025–2026. The following lists the Corporation's main initiatives for 2024–2025.

Income Generating/Self Employment Schemes

With a maximum project cost of Rs 3 lakh, Beneficiary Oriented Schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes assist jobless youngsters from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in beginning self-employment endeavors. In 2024–2025, 73 Scheduled Castes and 11 Scheduled Tribes benefited from this program. Small and medium-sized projects that are feasible and require a shorter gestation period are financed for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs through the Multi-Purpose Unit Loan for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Twenty-two Scheduled Caste business owners received aid under this program in 2024–2025. Small and medium-sized technology-driven initiatives of young Scheduled Castes entrepreneurs and innovators with investment needs not exceeding Rs 50 lakh are funded under a loan scheme for startup entrepreneurs at an interest rate of 7%. Newly graduated students from professional degrees are given priority. Similarly, a program known as Loan for Tribal Entrepreneurs assists underprivileged Scheduled Tribes youngsters in launching small businesses, such as those in trade, agriculture, etc. 130 business owners from Scheduled Tribes communities benefited from this program. Similarly, 1,442 Scheduled Caste business owners received aid in 2024–2025 through the Laghu Vyavasaya Yojana. Through the "Loan for Rehabilitation of Return Emigrants," KSDC for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes provides need-based loans, up to a maximum of Rs 20 lakh, to applicants from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who have been recognized by NORKA ROOTS in order to launch profitable businesses. 15% of the project cost is released as a capital subsidy by NORKA.

In order to empower rural women through social mobilization, KSDC for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is executing the Women Empowerment Program in collaboration with Kudumbashree. Under this program, loans are provided to groups of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes women entrepreneurs. This program provided assistance to 146 Scheduled Castes and 6 Scheduled Tribes in 2024–2025. In addition, KSDC has the Adivasi Mahila Sashakthikaran Yojana (NSTFDC) for Scheduled Tribes women and the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, which provides soft credit support to Scheduled Castes women entrepreneurs. 61 Scheduled Castes and 79 Scheduled Tribes women received support for their self-employment endeavors in 2024–2025 through the Mahila Samridhi Yojana and the Adivasi Mahila Sashakthikaran Yojana, respectively.

Social Welfare Schemes

Additionally, KSDC for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes provides loans and assistance for a range of social welfare programs and opportunities for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. A few such programs that support members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes include education loans for professional courses, foreign education loans up to Rs 10 lakh, marriage assistance up to Rs 2.5 lakh, housing loans, housing renovation loans, etc.