Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that Tamil Nadu has not notified the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, which aims to develop skills of traditional artisans. She addressed MSME owners in Coimbatore, highlighting various central schemes' benefits to the state.
Coimbatore: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday stated that the Tamil Nadu government has not yet notified the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, which was launched by the Central government last year. This revelation came during her address to MSME owners and industry heads at a meeting in Coimbatore organized by various industrial associations.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, aimed at developing the skills of traditional artisans and craftspeople, has received over two crore applications nationwide and benefited about 13.5 lakh people. Sitharaman pointed out that Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments were yet to notify the scheme.
The Finance Minister emphasized the benefits Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore have received from various central schemes such as the Mudra scheme, Udyam Registration, the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, and the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme. She stated that she was reiterating these benefits to counter claims that the State was not receiving its due from the Central government.
Prior to the meeting, officials from the MSME Ministry, Ministry of Textiles, Council for Leather Exports, Department of Financial Services, and top officials from banks, GST, Customs, and Income Tax departments held in-person meetings with representatives of industrial associations on Tuesday and Wednesday. These meetings were conducted to understand the demands of the industry, which would be studied and addressed, Sitharaman assured.
Highlighting the government's efforts to improve ease of doing business, the Finance Minister mentioned that the Central government had removed 1,500 laws and 40,000 mandatory requirements. She also noted that the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) had a presence in 63 MSME clusters and planned to expand to 70 more clusters in the next three years, enabling direct lending to MSMEs through these branches.
Sitharaman explained that her visit to MSME centers across the country was to elucidate the announcements made in the Union Budget for the sector. The Budget proposed seven major initiatives to provide financial support and credit to MSMEs, along with three schemes for skill development. She urged the MSMEs to take advantage of these measures.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, aimed at developing the skills of traditional artisans and craftspeople, has received over two crore applications nationwide and benefited about 13.5 lakh people. Sitharaman pointed out that Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments were yet to notify the scheme.
The Finance Minister emphasized the benefits Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore have received from various central schemes such as the Mudra scheme, Udyam Registration, the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, and the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme. She stated that she was reiterating these benefits to counter claims that the State was not receiving its due from the Central government.
Prior to the meeting, officials from the MSME Ministry, Ministry of Textiles, Council for Leather Exports, Department of Financial Services, and top officials from banks, GST, Customs, and Income Tax departments held in-person meetings with representatives of industrial associations on Tuesday and Wednesday. These meetings were conducted to understand the demands of the industry, which would be studied and addressed, Sitharaman assured.
Highlighting the government's efforts to improve ease of doing business, the Finance Minister mentioned that the Central government had removed 1,500 laws and 40,000 mandatory requirements. She also noted that the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) had a presence in 63 MSME clusters and planned to expand to 70 more clusters in the next three years, enabling direct lending to MSMEs through these branches.
Sitharaman explained that her visit to MSME centers across the country was to elucidate the announcements made in the Union Budget for the sector. The Budget proposed seven major initiatives to provide financial support and credit to MSMEs, along with three schemes for skill development. She urged the MSMEs to take advantage of these measures.