Kolkata, Aug 12 (KNN) Since 2011 about 505 MSME clusters have been set up across West Bengal by the state government to ensure smooth lending in the MSME sector by the banks.

In 2011 the count was at 49 and currently it has reached to 554 out of which 292 of these clusters are in MSME while 262 are in handloom and khadi segment.

The State MSME Department since 2011 has laid special focus on the development of clusters which has encouraged Bank loans in MSME clusters.

About 83 clusters have come up in Nadia district followed by East Burdwan with 75.

In East Burdwan rice mill, zari zardosi, dokra, muslin, rakhi, kantha stitch handloom have been set up while brass and bell metal, plastic, jewellery, nalen gur and muslin handloom exists in Nadia cluster.

When it comes to the development of clusters Murshidabad with 38, Howrah with 37 and East Midnapore with 35 are also among the front runners.

While Howrah is one of the few districts that have a shuttle cock cluster, East Midnapore specialises in cashew nuts, bus body and madur handloom and Paschim Burdwan has seven clusters of refractory bricks.

Kalimpong has developed a dozen clusters comprising cardamom, turmeric, ginger, mulberry silk, art and craft.

Fan cluster at Bansdroni, zari cluster in Howrah, textile cluster in Metiaburz, belle metal cluster in Bankura and Murshidabad, handloom cluster in Nadia and East Burdwan etc are some of the well-known clusters in the state.  (KNN Bureau)