We are Trying to Ensure that MSME Schemes Get Accepted by SC/STs: Giriraj Singh

There is no doubt that government of India is making sincere efforts by the form of making schemes and policies to uplift the entrepreneurial scenario of the country. In this perspective, various schemes and programs are taking shape to attract vast and diverse segments of the society. But, the analysis of the success stories of the schemes and programs can lead to a common conclusion that these schemes are under-utilized. Ministry of MSME has tried it’s a bit to attract segments such as SC/ST, minorities and many more just to make sure that members of these segments can come into the mainstream of society through the entrepreneurial journey.

But, it's not just common analysis, it’s a matter of concern for policymakers that these schemes are yet to be taken up or accepted the way they should be. Expressing concern over lower than the set target procurement from MSEs especially from SC/ ST owned MSEs, Union MSME Minister, Mr. Giriraj Singh has said the government is trying to address the issue.

The procurement by public sector units from micro and small enterprises owned by entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities remained at 0.47 percent in 2017-18, according to data in MSME Sambandh portal.

During 2017-18, procurement from 2,186 SC/ST owned MSEs stood at Rs 540.75 crore, out of total procurement of Rs 26,102.45 crore from micro and small enterprises by CPSEs, the data showed.

According to the Public Procurement Policy 2012, 4 percent of the total procurement by the CPSEs, Government Departments/ Ministries have to be mandatorily done from micro and small entities owned by SC/ST.

Addressing a press conference here Mr. Giriraj Singh said the government is trying to address the issue of lower procurement from MSEs, especially the ones owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs, and the issue of delayed payment by PSUs through the Sambandh and the Samadhaan portals launched earlier.

MSME Secretary A K Panda said the ministry has written to all CPSEs to revisit their tendering process so that there should not be any entry barriers in procurement.

However, the procurement from all MSEs stood at Rs 261.02 billion in 2017-18, out of the overall procurement of Rs 1152.76 billion.

Panda said the Sambandh portal data for 2017-18 may be subject to revision going forward.