New Delhi, Mar 23 (KNN) Public Sector Units (PSUs) are finding it difficult to achieve 4% procurement target from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs, Parliament was informed.

Minister of State for MSME Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said, “PSUs are finding difficult to achieve 4% procurement target from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs due to less participation of  MSEs  owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs   in procurement  process for supply of  goods and  services.”

Meanwhile, during the year   2015-16, as many as 61 CPSUs have been able to achieve 20% target of procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises. 

The Government of India mandated minimum of 20% procurement Micro & Small Enterprises by Central Ministries /Departments/PSUs. w.e.f.  1st April  2015. 

The Ministry of MSME has taken several measures to ensure compliance of Public Procurement Policy by PSUs.

 The Minister of MSME has taken a meeting with PSUs for compliance of  mandatory provisions of the Policy including procurement from MSEs.

Review Committee headed by Secretary, MSME regularly monitors the progress made in implementation of the Policy. Seven  such meetings has been held during the current financial year.

 An online portal www.msmedatabank.in has been launched for developing a comprehensive data of MSMEs across the country.

Prime Minister has launched National SC/ST Hub for MSMEs on the 18th October, 2016 in order to prepare details of SC/ST MSEs which will in turn assist the procuring agencies in identifying the SC/ST Entrepreneurs   for making procurement from these entrepreneurs.

 For doing ease of doing business, Ministry of MSME has launched online self certification Udyog  Aadhaar Memorandum  registration from 18th September, 2015 which provides ample opportunities for MSMEs to participate in various schemes implemented by the Government agencies including procurement made by PSUs.

 As pre the directions of the Niti Aayog,  the CPSUs who are making procurement of goods and service of   more than 100 crores in a financial year, have  been  requested to conduct Vendor Development Programme   including one exclusively for SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Various State level and National level  Vendor Development Programmes have been organised by MSME-DIs / NSIC /PSU’s  to identify the vendors for supply of goods and services to CPSUs / government Departments.