The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ministry has asked the Centre for Rs 5,500 crore from the finance ministry to promote the sector and carry out the recommendations of the prime minister’s task force on the sector.
“We met the finance minister and have asked for Rs 5,000-5,500 crore over the next three years to implement the recommendations of the MSME task force,” said Dinesh Rai, secretary, MSME.
The MSME ministry submitted the task force report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week and circulated it to other ministries for suggestions. The report has recommended the extension of the stimulus package specific to MSMEs for another year and has called for an easy procurement policy. Moreover, the report has asked for the creation of a separate fund for the industry.
“We have sent the task force recommendations to the commerce, labour and heavy industries ministries to examine the suggestions. We expect that the recommendations should be implemented within the next six months,” said Minister of state for MSME Dinsha Patel.