Prime Small Enterprise Empowerment and Development (SEED) Scheme

The Prime Small Enterprise Empowerment and Development (SEED) Scheme operates under the Chief Minister's ELEVATE Program and is administered by the Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya. Its core objective is to build entrepreneurship among young people and spread growth evenly across every region of the state.

Funding under the scheme is directed at individuals and unregistered entities that intend to set up new small businesses or grow existing ones. The scheme exists because the unorganised sector and several underserved business activities have historically gone without institutional support, even though they add substantially to the local economy and have stayed largely outside the formal financial system.

By concentrating on these segments, the programme aims to bring informal enterprises into the formal fold, strengthen their capacity to operate, and generate livelihood opportunities that last — with the wider goal of improving conditions in local communities and advancing economic development at the grassroots level in Meghalaya. The scheme's strategic emphasis rests on enabling local entrepreneurs to build businesses that are resilient and viable, contributing to the state's prosperity and to employment generation.

Applications for the SEED Scheme are submitted wholly online through the MeghalayaOne portal, which keeps the process reachable for every eligible resident and entity in the state.

- **Step 1: Citizen Registration for Member ID.** A first-time user begins by opening the official website and going to the "Registration for New User" section. All instructions must be read carefully before the applicant moves ahead. - **Step 2: Authentication ID Selection.** While registering, the applicant picks an authentication ID from the available choices, which include PDS (Ration Card) or Election Photo ID Card (EPIC). - **Step 3: Identity Verification.** The number of the chosen card is entered, and the applicant's name is then selected from the list shown for verification. Where the details match, they are accepted; where they do not, the EPIC number has to be entered manually and validated. - **Step 4: Application Form Completion (New Users).** Once validation succeeds, the applicant moves on to complete the detailed application form, supplying all the personal and project-related information sought. Supporting documents, typically covering proof of residency, age, experience and project details, must be uploaded. Every entry should be reviewed thoroughly before the form is finally submitted. On successful submission, a unique application number is issued for later reference. - **Step 5: Sign-In for Existing Users/Submissions.** Existing users, or those making further applications, sign in with their mobile number, PDS, EPIC or Member ID. - **Step 6: Accessing Services/Scheme.** After signing in, the applicant clicks "Apply for Services/Scheme" to begin or resume the application. - **Step 7: Final Application Submission.** As with the new user process, the required details are filled in, documents uploaded and information reviewed prior to final submission. The online portal handles the whole process, which makes applying for this scheme convenient for entrepreneurs in Meghalaya.