New Central policy to help MSMEs in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, April 6

Around 37,000 micro, small and medium enterprises will benefit from the Public Procurement Policy for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) notified by the Central government recently.

The policy makes it mandatory for all Central government departments and public sector undertakings to achieve an annual target of sourcing at least 20 per cent (by value) of their total annual procurement of goods and services from MSMEs within three years. One fifth of this target is to be procured from the enterprises owned by the SC and the ST. The policy recognises the coming of age of the MSMEs, both quality and quantity wise. “We have been long advocating for this policy and despite pressure from corporate houses, who are bent upon snatching the basic rights of the MSMEs, the government has prevailed upon them,” said Pankaj Gupta, president of the Industries Association of Uttarakhand.

In Uttarakhand, some of the MSMEs manufacture light machinery goods, ancillary goods and even medicines. Earlier, around 5 to 6 per cent of the goods were sourced from the MSMEs and the raising of the limit to 20 per cent was expected to provide a huge market for the goods manufactured by these enterprises.