 "Odisha aims at 100,000 jobs in MSME sector")
The job creation is expected to be aided by the state's entrepreneurship development policy soon to be finalised.
"In 2015-16, we are aiming for creation of at least 100,000 jobs in the MSME sector, meaning a growth of over 30 per cent compared to last fiscal. Around 40,000 new enterprises are expected to come up in the next fiscal. To promote creation of new units in the MSME sector, we are going to finalise our entrepreneurship development policy soon," said Panchanan Dash, secretary, MSME department.
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The new policy would stress on measures like awareness, promotion, skill development, networking and mentoring besides attempting to change the mindset of target groups. The policy aims at conducting entrepreneurship development programmes at block level and later providing handholding support to the youths to help them become entrepreneurs. Under the policy, an entrepreneurship development society would be set up with incubators to provide training not just for setting up of new units but also provide continuing education in different aspects like product design, packaging, technology up-gradation, financial management and marketing.
On the other hand, the state MSME procurement policy, likely to be finalised within three months, mandate the state government departments and state public sector undertakings (PSUs) to purchase 20 per cent of their requirements from MSEs (micro, small & medium enterprises) in Odisha which would give a boost to the sector. This is on the lines of the Union government's policy where central PSUs have to source at least 20 per cent of their annual requirement from the MSEs.
The state MSME department is also working on Biju Atma Nijukti Yojana aimed at generating self-employment opportunities for the unemployed youths.
There are about 1.5 million MSME units in the state providing jobs to 3.3 million people. Odisha ranks among the top 10 states in terms of providing employment. The other leading states in terms of employment are Uttar Pradesh (9.23 million employees), West Bengal (8.578 million), Tamil Nadu (8.09 million), Andhra Pradesh (7.069 million), Maharashtra (7 million), Kerala (4.96 million ), Gujarat (4.77 million), Karnataka (4.672 million) and Madhya Pradesh (3.36 million).