Like the rest of the country, there are challenges in front of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Uttar Pradesh, but the government’s intention and policies to overcome them seem to be correct to reach the state’s economy to the target of $ 1 trillion. Are.
In a discussion organized on the topic ‘Uttar Pradesh: Role of MSMEs in Trillion Dollar Economy’ during the BLiTZ Prosperity program, bureaucrats and entrepreneurs of the state discussed the challenges faced by small entrepreneurs and the efforts being made by the government to overcome them. And kept this opinion while talking about the plans.
Adviser to the Chief Minister and retired IAS officer Avnish Kumar Awasthi said that soon after forming the government in 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath put forward four major priorities – law and order, use of technology, skill development and One District One Product (ODOP). The first task was to restore law and order, he said. Big industrialists and businessmen are capable and protect their establishment or business.
But there was a problem in front of the small entrepreneurs that who would save their goods from being looted or who would save them from extortion. He said that the strict law and order situation that the people of the state are witnessing at present, has rarely been seen before. Not only this, the Chief Minister directed to make it more strict in the second term, the benefits of which are visible to the entrepreneurs and investors. Awasthi said that as much importance is given to the use of technology by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister also gives the same importance. That is why MSMEs are being given the benefit of systems like standup policy, land allotment, single window clearance by using technology.
Describing skill development as a major priority of the Chief Minister, he said that training is being imparted to the youth across the state so that industries and entrepreneurs get ready skilled personnel. This is going to benefit the whole country as many multinational companies are shifting their plants from China to India. If they get manpower with world class industrial skills then why won’t they come to Uttar Pradesh and why the employment will not increase in the state.
The Chief Advisor said that how much benefit is being received from the ODOP scheme, it can be asked from Moradabad’s brass industry, Varanasi’s silk industry etc. Nearly 25 per cent increase in trade and exports in both the places is due to ODOP.
Sharad S Chandak, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, who was involved in the discussion, said that MSMEs are the most important part of the economy and they also provide maximum employment after agriculture. Also, they have a huge share in exports. He said that entrepreneurship and innovation also come from MSMEs, hence these should be emphasized.
State Bank of India understands this very well, that’s why out of 2200 branches present in 75 districts of the state, 100 branches have been opened only for MSMEs, where all their problems are resolved through Relationship Manager.
Chandak informed that pre-approved business loans are also given to MSMEs facing financial crunch through State Bank’s YONO app. Along with this, the bank has organized loan camps in all the districts of Uttar Pradesh in the last 1 month under schemes like Mudra, Pradhan Mantri Swanidhi. Through these, loans worth Rs 100 crore have been given to MSMEs within a month.
V Satya Venkata Rao, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI said that taking advantage of the era of technology, his bank is laying great emphasis on digitization to facilitate the entrepreneurs. He said, “An entrepreneur does not want his work to be interrupted or to have to talk to the bank again and again as it consumes his time.
That’s why SIDBI has digitized the entire process from loan application to loan disbursement so that entrepreneurs can avail loans from the comfort of their offices without having to visit the bank every time.
Venkata Rao said that SIDBI is giving a lot of emphasis on refinancing to overcome the problem of funds being faced by the entrepreneurs. He informed that a target of Rs 8 lakh crore refinancing has been set by 2027. Balram Narula, Managing Director of leading hosiery producer Jet Knitwears Limited, during the discussion on the forum, appreciated the schemes of the state government but expressed complaint on the way of implementing them.
He said that the scheme of the government to provide loans without any collateral or security is very good for MSMEs. But banks look at those seeking such loans with suspicion and try to give as little loan as possible. Banks should think in this direction.
Puran Davar, Chairman of Davar Footwear, appealed to the government to make ODOP more effective and show more activeness on financial assistance to MSMEs so that MSMEs become more powerful.
