DIC stands for District Industries Centre, which is an institution at the district level that provides services and support facilities to entrepreneurs for setting up their businesses. DICs are managed and operated at the district level to provide all the necessary support services to entrepreneurs or first-time business owners to start their own MSMEs. The primary focus of DIC is to generate employment in rural regions of India. DICs are responsible for providing assistance to entrepreneurs in DIC programs and guaranteeing continuous support during the establishment of their business. DICs also offer young business owners a single-window clearing system that allows them to settle their business-related problems quickly. The following are the functions and activities performed by DICs:
- Spotting entrepreneurs
- Conducting motivational programs to find new entrepreneurs throughout the districts
- Conducting multiple training programs to encourage entrepreneurs
- Giving assistance to entrepreneurs under State Incentives scheme
- Providing escort service to entrepreneurs towards identification of industry and preparation of project profiles for assistance from financial institution/banks, selection and purchase of machinery, etc.
- Obtaining clearance for starting an industry from Government departments through single window clearance committee
- Creating awareness about the policies and programs on industrial development of the State/Central Governments, through seminars and dissemination meets
- Allotting sheds in Electrical & Electronic Industrial Estates
- Providing clearance of licenses, etc. through Single Window Meeting
- Conducting motivational campaigns
- Helping in the distribution of Project profiles among entrepreneurs
- Granting subsidies to Small Scale Industries (SSIs) units
- Conducting surveys of existing industries, traditional industries, raw materials, and human resources
DICs also promote the Registration and Development of Industrial Cooperatives. DIC loan schemes can be availed by scheduled castes, safai karamcharis families, and other backward classes (OBCs) .
