The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector is a vibrant sector of the economy. The Government of India supplements the efforts of the States/UTs through various schemes, programmes and policy initiatives for promotion, development of MSMEs in the country. These schemes/ programmes include Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, PM Vishwakarma scheme, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, Entrepreneurship & Skill Development Programme scheme, Micro and Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme, Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance, MSME Champions Scheme, etc. These schemes provide employment in manufacturing, services, trading and women owned enterprises.

The Government has taken a number of initiatives to modernize heavy industries, enhance new skill development programmes and facilitate greater participation of women and marginalized groups in the country, such as:

1. A network of Technology Centres/Tool Rooms has been established by the Government in the country to support MSMEs by providing access to advance manufacturing technologies, training & skilling to make them competitive.
2. Special drives for registration of women-owned MSMEs on Udyam Registration (UR) and Udyam Assist Portals (UAP).
3. To support women entrepreneurs, the Public Procurement Policy mandates that 3% of annual procurement by CPSEs/Ministries/Departments must be made from women-owned micro and small enterprises.
4. Ministry of MSME implements Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) which is a credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and rural/urban unemployed youth. Out of the total PMEGP beneficiaries, 39% are women and they are provided higher subsidy (35%) vis-a-vis non-special category (upto 25%).
5. To encourage entrepreneurship among women, Ministry of MSME implements ‘Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana’ under Coir Vikas Yojana, which is an exclusive training programme aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in the Coir sector.
6. Ministry of MSME has launched ‘PM Vishwakarma’ Scheme on 17.09.2023, to provide a number of benefits to the traditional artisans and craftspeople including women, engaged in 18 traditional trades.
7. The Ministry has launched the awareness campaign ‘Yashasvini’ to create awareness among existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs and providing them with continuum of support through handholding, mentorship, and capacity building.

The Government is implementing Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) across the country. The objective of the scheme is to integrate MSMEs into local and global value chain by enhancing their productivity and competitiveness. Financial assistance as GoI grant is provided to establish Common Facility Centers (CFCs) in the existing clusters and establish/up-grade infrastructural facilities in new/existing industrial estates/areas/flatted factory complexes. Under the scheme 113 Common Facility Centres (CFCs) and 251 Infrastructure Development (IDs) have been completed across the country till now.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Sushri Shobha Karandlaje) in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

*****

                                                     

AKS

(Release ID: 2198705) Visitor Counter : 150