‘Friends of MSMEs In UP Assembly’ Formed To Accelerate Economic Growth

Lucknow, Aug 13 (KNN) A group of MLAs from 20 industrial centres in Uttar Pradesh have come together to form ‘Friends of MSMEs In UP Assembly’.

Dr. Neeraj Bora, MLA of Lucknow, is Convenor of the newly founded group. 

The group is modelled on the lines of ‘Friends of MSMEs in Parliament’ at the centre, which is proving very effective in resolving MSME issues by leveraging Parliamentary institutions.

The Central group is headed by a senior MP from Indore, Shankar Lalwani, and its national Convenor is a former MP from Meerut, Rajendra Agrawal.

The meeting in Lucknow was held a day before the 24-hour marathon discussion in the UP Assembly on the economic growth of the state.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the group in UP, Rajendra Agrawal said, “The political will to effect rapid economic growth is palpable both in the state and the centre.  But to overcome the inertia in the system against change needs closer cooperation of political leadership and MSMEs.”

“The powers of the legislature to find systemic solutions to the problems small entrepreneurs face are highly underutilized. We have seen how the parliamentary system could be leveraged to bring ministries, constitutional bodies and MSMEs to the same table for resolving long-pending MSME issues in the centre”, he added.

The national MSME body, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), is to provide the secretariat support to the UP body, as is being done by the central organization of MPs.

Secretary General of FISME Anil Bhardwaj- who has also been nominated by UP Govt as a member of the Economic Advisory Group, highlighted the need for mass-scale formalization of MSMEs present in the state and enabling their growth and expansion. The group has proposed committees to prepare a time-bound roadmap for formalization, public procurement, insolvency and bankruptcy provisions for individuals, proprietorship & partnership firms and leveraging the temple economy to create formal jobs.

Most MLAs raised the persisting problems related to municipalities and urban development, power, pollution and fire departments. 

Assuming the charge of Convenor of Friends of MSMEs in UP Assembly and buoyed by the response, Dr. Bora said, “I am confident that the group will meet regularly during each session and effectively address the binding constraints of MSMEs of the state”. 

MLA from Noida, Pankaj Singh, highlighted the need for such a forum in UP to develop an investment-friendly culture, particularly for MSMEs. On behalf of MLAs present, he promised full support in the execution of MSME-friendly initiatives.

Dinesh Singhal, former President of FISME and founding President of IIA, underscored the challenge facing the state to successfully make a transition from a feudal agri-based society to one which supports risk-takers and wealth creators.

Besides former MP Rajendra Agarwal and Dr. Neeraj Bora, the following MLAs were present: Sidharth Nath Singh, MLA, Prayagraj; Pankaj Singh, MLA, Noida; Mahesh Gupta, MLA, Badayun; Manish Asija, MLA, Firozabad; Ritesh Gupta, MLA, Muradabad; Purushottam Khandelwal, MLA, Agra Uttar; Pankaj Gupta, MLA, Unnao; Anupama Jaiswal, MLA, Baharaich;

Anil Parashar, MLA, Aligarh; Eng. Awanish Singh, MLA, Lucknow; Dr. Sudhir Gupta, MLC, Pilibhit; Vinay Verma, MLA, Hapur; Rajiv Gaumbar, MLA, Saharanpur; Manish Rawat, MLA, Sitapur; Vipin Verma David, MLA, Etah; Neelima Katiyar, MLA, Kalyanpur; Ajay Singh, MLA, Basti and Prateek Bhusan, MLA, Gonda.

On the occasion, three past Presidents of FISME were present, namely Dinesh Singhal, V.K. Agarwal and Neeraj Kedia. 

(KNN Bureau)