Women led MSMEs in Odisha is higher than national average

Bhubaneswar: The number of women-led MSMEs in Odisha is higher than the national average, said MSME secretary L.N. Gupta on Thursday.

There are 38,477 MSMEs in Odisha led by women, which constitutes 12.3% of the total MSMEs in Odisha, he added.

Participating in a seminar organized at the Odisha International MSME Trade Fair here, Gupta said that 28,835 (9%) MSMEs are owned by persons of SC Category and 18,800 (6%) MSMEs are owned by ST Category.

He further added that whereas Odisha MSME Policy, 2016 offers additional incentive of 5% to MSMEs promoted by women and ST/SC Entrepreneurs, Odisha Food Processing Policy offers 8% additional incentive to the women and ST/SC entrepreneurs, over and above what is available to the entrepreneurs of general category.

He further stated that under the Stand up ‘India Programme’ each branch of a bank is required to provide composite loan between Rs.10 lakh to Rs.1 crore to at least one woman entrepreneur and one SC or ST entrepreneur for setting up a greenfield enterprise.

Incubation Centres for entrepreneurship development

Delivering keynote address on the occasion, Ravindra Nath, CMD, NSIC, New Delhi informed that with the creation of National ST/SC Hub, various special incentives have been extended to ST/SC entrepreneurs in procurement by CPSUs.

In order to bridge the awareness gap about the scheme, NSIC has already organized 20 SC/ST conclaves during the current year and the next one will be organized in Odisha shortly.

He also offered to set up Incubation Centres for entrepreneurship development in the state, provided the state government provides necessary building infrastructure.

He added that NSIC will bring plant and machinery required for incubation support to the budding entrepreneurs under the ASPIRE scheme.

He also invited the group of entrepreneurs from Odisha to visit their Incubator and Advance Learning Centre at New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Industries secretary Sanjeev Chopra highlighted the steps taken by the government for ‘Ease of Doing Business’.

He called upon the MSMEs including women entrepreneurs to use the online platforms like GO SWIFT, Go Smile, APPA etc.

He also informed that IDCO has more than 50,000 acres of land available under its land bank for the entrepreneurs intending to set up industry in Odisha.

Archana Patnaik, MD, Odisha Medical Corporation Ltd., Bhubaneswar informed about the procurement of at least 20% of total quantity and preferences being given by the medical corporation to the MSMEs.

Rashima Misra, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Milk Mantra, Bhubaneswar shared her success story indicating the growth of Milk Mantra, which today supplies more than 1.35 lakh litres of milk in Odisha.

Jagyaseni Jena, Secretary, Govinda Dhupakathi Cluster, Govindpur, Dhenkanal while narrating her story, stated that how she had overcome the difficulties and has been able to organize self-employment to more than 400 women in the manufacturing of incense sticks.

Jayashree Mohanty, Co-Founder & President, Luminous Infoways shared her story of becoming successful IT Entrepreneur and software exporter starting from a rented house with employment to 2 persons to now 532 persons.

S.K. Sahoo, MSME-DI, Government of India, Cuttack explained about various schemes of Govt. of India available for women and ST/SC entrepreneurs.

Delivering the presidential address, MSME Minister Prafulla Samal stated that State government is taking all necessary steps to empower women in the state socially and economically.

He stated that through Mission Shakti and other programmes of MSME and Industries Department, necessary facilitation is being made available to women to set up their own enterprises.