Action Oriented Approach for MSMEs: Kalraj Mishra

Expectations are high from the new Modi Government, on the other hand the on-ground economic realities are far different from the glossy picture. Amidst these expectations, Narendra Modi government is pinning hopes on MSMEs for job creation and skilling the unemployed youth even as it realizes how vulnerable the smaller businesses find themselves in, MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra said.

Mishra held a meeting with representatives of MSME associations to discuss various issues concerning the sector that has been working as locomotive for the economy.

Speaking at the event, Mishra acknowledged that MSMEs are vulnerable.  However, he assured representatives of industry associations that he would look into their issues and make every effort to address them.

“People have a lot of expectations.  When I spoke to the people in the Ministry and discussed the issues and when I met with entrepreneurs both small and large, they presented MSME issues in such a way that I came to know how vulnerable they are," Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister, Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India.

People are dying due to unemployment and other issues and these need to be addressed by the MSME ministry.

The Minister went on to outline programmes run by the NSIC, and incubation centres set up across the country.  He said people can be provided training and raw materials can also be produced there.

With regard to skills, “Even if your skill one person four to five others will be able to join them. The employees/labourers in the MSMEs also need skill development, tool rooms should be increased.  Currently there are 18 and 15 more will be set up.”

He also called for the need for information to be disseminated widely through the internet, pointing out to the fact that registration has been made online.

Offering his comments, Secretary MSME, Madhav Lal, said that during the past one month since the minister has taken over, they have been discussing a wide range of issues, in the context of growth, employment generation and capacity building with a fresh perspective.

On the other hand, AS and DC, Amarendra Sinha said that it was an initiative taken by the MSME Minister to have a meeting with all the associations of India to discuss how to make India a manufacturing hub, and outline policy measures whereby India can progress.

The associations raised issues such as self-certification, single window clearance, tax, focused schemes on service sector along with manufacturing, quota for women entrepreneurs for procurement.

AIPMA wanted the Minister to increase limit on excise duty, anti-dumping duty on imports from China on finished products, etc.