J&K was not making much use of various schemes of MSME Ministry: Kalraj Mishra

Srinagar, May 9 (KNN) Union MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra, who was in Srinagar on Sunday, said that Jammu & Kashmir was not making much use of various schemes of the Ministry and asked the state government to come up with more proposals so that more assistance could be given.

He even expressed his preparedness to look into assistance of more industrial states, even in one district, provided the proposal is good for the development of MSMEs.

Appreciating the work of State Government in Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) during 2015-16, Mishra highlighted that 23,140 people of the state were employed in 3,772 PMEGP units across the state. 

The minister added that a record sum of approximately Rs 38 crores was utilised in past two years for assisting a record number of more than 2200 PMEGP units in Jammu and Kashmir.

“During the last two years more than 6,80,000 persons were employed by setting up of 92,508 PMEGP units in whole of India. Out of which 23,140 persons were employed in 3,772 units in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mishra said while addressing a press conference. 

Earlier, the Union Minister inaugurated and addressed to the participants of PMEGP workshop at institute of Hotel Management Rajbagh, here. Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga was also present on the occasion.

He added that under Technology Centre System Programme 15 new technology centres with the help and assistance from World Bank will be set up in various parts of the country. “One such centre is being set up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that to facilitate the enterprises to get benefits of various schemes of the ministry, a web-based application module, namely “MY MSME”, which is to be converted into mobile app.

Mishra said that the ministry of MSME was always there to ease the lives of stake holders. “More than 6,50,000 units have already got registered on Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) and 15 new technology centres at a cost of Rs 2200 crores are coming up in various states of the country one of which will now be located in IGC Samba as proposed by the state government,” he said.

The Minister stated that it has always been the endeavour of the NDA Government to bring all sections of society into the mainstream, especially the ones who are militancy affected. Earlier, while interacting with the representatives of Khadi Federation, the minister assured them for early release of MDA.

He added that for the first time Rs 155 crores of MDA has already been released in the first months of financial year. 

The Union Minister also inaugurated the Marketing Plaza and first ever National Khadi Exhibition in Srinagar.

On Saturday, the Union Minister inaugurated the Harmukh Khadi Gram Udyog Sansthan, a spinning and weaving centre and marketing plaza for khadi goods at a function here.

The Minister also distributed 25 new model charkhas among local artisans at the function, which was organised Khadi and Village Industries Board Srinagar at 90 Feet Road, Soura.

Speaking on the occasion, Mishra said that the charkha is a symbol of resistance and can help maximum number of unemployed youth and women in far flung areas to attain economic independence. (With PIB Inputs)