Madhya Pradesh government has decided to set up Micro and Small Enterprises department before Makar Sankranti (winter solstice) this year. Small industries association, however, has already dismissed the idea by saying that government must create a separate ministry for the sector. “A Cabinet decision approved creation of the separate department for MSMEs,” Narottam Mishra, Parliament affairs minister and government spokesperson said here.
The government had earlier, decided to bring medium scale industries under umbrella of this department but later, it was decided to shrink the radius of the department and focus on micro and small scale industries only.
The new department will look into affairs like SME cluster formation and other peculiar issues pertaining to MSME sector like land allotment for small scale industries in existing industrial areas and proposed industrial areas.
On the contrary, MP Small Scale Industries Association has opposed the move and said this department would not serve any purpose, government should have created a separate ministry.
“The ministry will work purposely," said Dr Rs Goswami, president of the association
According to the association, there are approximately 355,000 small scale industries in state, of them 108000 units have access to funds which has now reached Rs 25000 crore.
Among other decision state government today decided to have investment in phased manner in four medium irrigation projects in Satna where government will invest Rs 127.66 crore to cover 28 villages, another similar project will cover an area of 9340 hectare with an investment of Rs 2259 crore, while a project of Rs 261 crore will cover an area of 9952 crore in Panna district. Similarly a medium irrigation project in Dindori district will cover 12285 hectares of land with an investment of Rs 181 crore.