INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Guwahati: The central government has earmarked around Rs 1,000 crore for implementation of various schemes for Micro Small and Medium
Enterprise (MSME) in the Northeast region during the current financial year, said an official on Monday.Director of Micro, Small Medium
Enterprise-Development Institute, M Sreenivasulu, told the media here that MSMEs are significantly present in all states and Union
Territories, and are the second-largest employer after agriculture in the country.He said that in spite of the various welfare schemes being
run by the Ministry of MSME, it has been found that there is a lack of awareness of the schemes at the grassroot level and this has
prevented the benefits from reaching the target beneficiaries.Mr Sreenivasulu said that the institute is primarily engaged in implementation
of various schemes of the Union Ministry of MSME towards encouragement of self-employment amongst unemployed youths as well as promotion and
development of MSME sector in the region."The basic objectives of the schemes are to alleviate poverty and unemployment by setting up micro
and small-scale manufacturing, service or business enterprises
It also aims to develop existing MSME units to grow further by way of financial benefits for enhancement of GDP and export turnover of the
country," he said.He also said that that the schemes of the ministry are central sector schemes in which specific percentage of the
budgetary allocation are earmarked for SCs, STs and northeastern region's population.
