(a) the growth rate of small industries in the country during each of the last three years, State and Union Territory-wise;
(b) whether small industries are not being given proper treatment and importance as compared to big and medium industries; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to give a boost to this sector to provide
employment to job seekers?
MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES(SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a): Based on the revised Index of Industrial Production for the micro and small scale industries (MSEs) sector, with base year 2001-02, the rate of growth of production of MSEs in the country during 2004-05, 2005-06,and 2006-07 have been 10.9% , 12.3% and 12.6% respectively. The State/UT-wise information is not maintained centrally.
(b) & (c): Promotion and development of MSMEs is primarily the responsibility of State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. To assist the States/Uts and supplement their efforts in this regard, the Central Government implements several schemes/ programmes for promotion and development of MSEs. These, inter alia, include,
(i) facilitating availability of credit mainly through public sector banks/institutions,
(ii) assistance for (a) technology upgradration, (b) marketing,(c) integrated infrastructural development,(d) comprehensive need-based development of clusters, and
(iii) entrepreneurship development.
Further, the Government has enacted the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 to facilitate the promotion and development of micro, small and medium enterprises and enhancement of their competitiveness. The Act has come into effect from 2nd October, 2006.
Besides, Government implements the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) specifically designed for creating self-employment opportunities among unemployed youth.