Haryana launches safety audit scheme for MSMEs

Haryana government has notified a Safety Audit Scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state to promote safety at the workplace.

Announcing this at Chandigarh recently, State Industries and Commerce Minister Captain Abhimanyu said that the scheme would ensure the effectiveness of safety programmes, identify compliance deficiencies, suggest safety solutions, reduce injuries and increase workplace safety.

Referring to the quantum of assistance under the scheme, the minister said there would be 75 per cent reimbursement of the expenses incurred, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh for conducting safety audit. Also, there would be 50 per cent subsidy on cost of capital equipments required for undertaking safety measures, subject to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh. The scheme would remain in operation for a period of five years.

MSMEs which have undertaken safety audit and purchased equipments after August 14, 2015 and before August 14, 2020 will be eligible under this scheme, he added.

Giving further details about the eligibility criteria, he said that all MSMEs in the state which have filed Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum with their respective District Industries Centre would be eligible. Such enterprises would be provided financial assistance provided the safety audit has been done by auditors of an ISO certified agency. The item of manufacture should not fall in the restrictive list as notified by the state government from time to time, he said.

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He also said that investments in new plant, machinery and equipments focused towards enhancing safety would be eligible for subsidy under this scheme. The unit should be in commercial production and be in regular production at the time of disbursement.

He said that application for reimbursement of the expenses incurred in conducting safety audit and purchase of capital equipments for safety measures along with listed documents will have to be submitted to the Director, Industries and Commerce on the web portal of the department.