Indore, Dec 7 (KNN) The Association of Industries (AIMP) on Tuesday urged the state government to make it mandatory for the government departments to procure 50 per cent of the items that are manufactured by MSME units of Madhya Pradesh.

A demand in this regard was made in a meeting of state-level Small Industries Promotion Board held in Bhopal. MSME minister Omprakash Saklecha and principal secretary and commissioner of MSME Department P Narhari were amongst those present at the meeting.

The state MSMEs pointed out that due to state's purchase policy not being followed, electric transformer manufacturing and repairing and pipes manufacturing units have been hit hard.

Speaking at the meeting, Yogesh Mehta, president of the AIMP pointed out that in the state purchase policy, there are clear rules for procurement to be made by the departments of the state government stipulating procurement of 50 per cent items to be made of goods manufactured by the MSME units of the state. This rule has been made to protect the MSME units of the state.

But in reality, this rule is flouted with impunity. Various states have the same kind of rule and they are strictly following it but unfortunately, this is not being done in our state, he said.

Mehta highlighted that even 30 to 40 per cent procurement would make a big difference. Later he handed over a memorandum to MSME Minister Saklecha. 

Key discussions during the meet included matters related to the development and expansion of small-scale industries, various cluster schemes and industrial infrastructure development.

On the demands presented by Mehta, the state MSME minister said that the problems will be solved soon after considering the suggestions presented by the departmental officers.

Key persons who attended the meeting included MD Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Ltd. Vivek Porwal, member secretary of the Pollution Department Chandramohan Thakur, and officials of the Labour Department and Commercial Taxes Department.  (KNN Bureau)