New Delhi, 24 June (KNN) The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is striving to increase the number of micro and small industries in the country on a sustainable basis through implementation of various schemes and programs, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for MSME in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry provides better credit facility, technology up gradation and skilling to boost the entire MSME eco-system, the Minister said.

He mentioned some major schemes implemented by the MSME Ministry namely, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP); Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI); A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE); Coir Board; Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE); Credit linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) and Micro & Small Enterprises-Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP).

While explaining the achievement of various schemes enacted, Gadkari said “A total of 5.45 lakh micro enterprises have been assisted under PMEGP with a margin money subsidy of Rs.12074.04crore, providing employment opportunities to an estimated 45.22 lakh persons since PMEGP’s inception till March 31, 2019.

A total of 34,791 artisans have benefitted with assistance of Rs 143.15 crore during 2018-19 under SFURTI.

Under ASPIRE, 74 Livelihood Business Incubation (LBI) centres and 11 Technology Business Incubators have been approved since inception of the scheme, he mentioned.

He said “Ministry of MSME has set up Coir Board and is implementing various schemes and programs to assist entrepreneurs to set up new MSMEs in all coconut producing states. Under Coir VikasYojna, 36,30,653 employment opportunities have been created since 2014-15 till 2018-19 in the Coir Sector.”

During FY 2018-19, a total of 4,35,520 proposals have been approved providing guarantee to a tune of Rs. 30,168 crore under CGTMSE, he added.

Since inception of CLCSS scheme in 2000-01 till date, a total of 62,827 MSE units have been assisted utilizing subsidy of Rs 3888.13 crore. During 2018-19, a total of 14,155 MSE units have been assisted utilizing subsidy of Rs 980.44 crore, stated Gadkari.

The Ministry MSME has adopted the Cluster Development approach as a key strategy for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and their collectives in the country.

During 2018-19, 17 Common Facility Centres and 11 Infrastructure Development projects have been established,  he added. (KNN/VS)