‘Need to bring stories of struggles of SME entrepreneurs like padman Arunachalam Muruganantham,’ says President

The MSME sector is leveraging the demographic dividend of the country and promoting inclusive growth in rural and backward areas, said President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurating UdyamSangam conclave on the occasion of the second International MSME Day on June 27, 2018, in New Delhi.

Saying that the MSME sector accounts for around 60% employment in India, the President added that there are 6.5 crore MSME units across the country employing over 11 crore people and contributing over 10% growth which is higher than heavy industrial units, a report by the Press Information of Bureau (PIB) stated.

Referring to UdyamSakhi portal of the MSME Ministry, he said that it will empower women and weaker sections by providing training to 80 lakh women.

The President appreciated the work done by Arunachalam Muruganantham in promoting women’s hygiene by manufacturing low-cost sanitary napkins. Entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries are now trying to replicate this. Such has been his inspiring story that filmmakers have had commercial success by making a film documenting his struggle. The President desired that many more such films documenting the contributions of innovative micro and small entrepreneurs should be produced.

President Kovind also launched the Solar Charkha Mission which will cover 50 clusters with every cluster employing 400 to 2000 artisans. The Mission has been approved by the Government of India for which the MSME Ministry will disburse subsidy of Rs 550 crores to the artisans. He added that the Solar Charkha Mission will generate employment in rural areas and contribute to the green economy.

The President also referred to the special relief given to the MSME sector under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code which will allow promoters to bid for an enterprise undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process.

He expressed hope that deliberations at the conclave will throw new solutions so that micro and small entrepreneurs are able to occupy a space at the global level.

A portal of the MSME Ministry called ‘Sampark’, which will act as a bridge between the talent pool and those enterprises seeking trained man power, was also unveiled by the President.

Nearly 3000 delegates from ministries and departments of Central Government, State and Union Territories, autonomous bodies, MSME associations, non-banking financial corporations, private sector and public sector banks, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and self-help groups are participating in the day-long conclave.

They will be deliberating upon a range of issues that include MSME Credit, entrepreneurship of aspirational groups and regions, agri-business enterprises, challenges before services, knowledge and manufacturing sectors, women entrepreneurs, development and strengthening of access to market and healthcare and Ayush enterprises.

In order to develop a system for creating awareness about government schemes, a session on communication and media will also be held.

The purpose of the UdyamSangam conclave is to encourage dialogue and partnerships among various stakeholders of the MSME ecosystem for promoting innovation and knowledge sharing on MSME related issues. It is also aimed at creating awareness about the MSME sector at the national level and assuring through declaration of specific measures for knowledge, marketing, technical, and financial handholding by the government of the MSME Sector at the grassroots level.