Bhubaneswar: The state Khadi and Village Industries Commission organised a state-level workshop on Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme here, Thursday.
The Union Minister of State for MSMEs, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, inaugurated the workshop and urged banks to financially support micro enterprises.
Till 2008, the Centre implemented the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) to create employment through micro enterprises. The two schemes were merged and was named the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
The PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at promoting self-employment through an approach similar to PMRY and REGP. This Central scheme attempts to help people establish their own businesses.
Sarangi asked banks to create a data bank containing info about all loan applicants, loan defaulters, rejected applicants and successful ones.
He said that MSMEs has immense potential to drive economic growth and create more jobs. It is the second largest sector after agriculture in job creation. He said that youth should be encouraged to start businesses.
Sarangi said that he had information that bankers were not supporting the khadi industry. “There are many cases of non-cooperation from banks, and non-availability of markets. We must find a solution to this,” he added.
He said that many Indians have now launched their own enterprises and are in a position to create jobs. “I urge banks to be reasonable with entrepreneurs who create jobs,” he said.
Sarangi said that khadi is a symbol of the freedom movement. It also provides livelihoods to millions and makes them identify with the nation. He said that he will write to all colleges and schools to insist on khadi uniforms.
Sangram Keshari Paikray, the President of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, said that marketing of khadi products is a must for employment generation.
KVIC state Director Samir Mohanty also urged banks to process PMEGP proposals with the same care as other applications.