New Delhi, May 17 (KNN) The Department of Economic and policy Research (DEPR) under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is conducting a study to explore the MSMEs in terms of its financial soundness and sickness with a special focus on the engineering industries.

The study intends to look at the various dimensions associated with the general and credit availability affecting sickness of MSME units in the state. First hand data will be collected from the MSME units by conducting surveys.

At present the Department of Economic and policy Research is in the process of data collection by sending out questionnaires to the entrepreneurs operating in West Bengal. The RBI department expects the data collection to be completed by 26 of May.

The questionnaires focusses on various aspects such as finance of the units, type of machinery being used, marketing, sources of raw materials, borrowings, feasibility in applying for loans. It also takes into account whether or not the MSME unit is able to access/avail the government’s schemes. 

The study tries to understand various factors in general and credit availability in particular affecting sickness of MSME units in the state.

Earlier, the Data from 2015 showed West Bengal had over 38,835 sick units, ranking it sixth in terms of the states with most number of sick MSME units.

In this regard, inputs have been from MSME entrepreneurs from the engineering sector. (KNN/ DA)