MSMEs on Post-Budget Webinar: PM Expects to Accelerate Growth

The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi delivered a speech at a Post-Budget Webinar titled ‘PM VIshwakarma Kaushal Samman’.  It focused upon the newly launched PM VIKAS program, which aims to provide extensive assistance to artisans and craftspeople who currently are not covered by any GOI programs. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Textiles closed the session. He emphasized on the need of the hour i.e the convergence of PM VIKAS scheme with the existing schemes in other Ministry/Departments. Further put a light on the importance of the post budget webinars and how it generates an impact on the value to the policy approach by the Government. Read More Business News on our website.

The special address was done in four parallel breakout sessions by the Prime Minister. It covered main parameters: 

 (i) Affordable finance access which includes incentives regarding the digital transactions and social security

(ii) Advancements in skill training and assistance of modern technology and digital tools 

(iii) Marketing support for linkages in the domain domestic and global markets

(iv) New scheme-structuralism, the beneficiaries’ identification and the framework for implementation

The panel included expert artisans from respective fields, officials from Central Ministries and State Governments and representatives from Banks,  other financial institutions, Private organizations, Associations and e-commerce platforms. 

What Experts are Saying?

Ms. Shubhra, Development Commissioner for Handicraft and Handloom at the Ministry of Textiles, served as the moderator for the third breakout session, which was titled “Marketing support for linkages with domestic and global markets.” The new plan’s framework for marketing support for domestic and international markets was the focus of the session. It covered topics like expanding the market for artisans, establishing backward and forward links, public relations, advertising, quality certification, packaging, and logistical assistance for artisans.

Shri Shubham Satpute, a leather expert, Shri Bihari Lal Prajapati, a potter expert, and Shri M. Manikandan, a sculptor expert, were among the panelists. Shri Abhishek Chandra, Special Secretary of the Tripura Government, Shri Irfan Alam, Director of the Khadi India Portal, and Smt. Shri Rajkumar Malhotra, Chairman of EPCH, Shri P. Gopalakrishnan, and Prachi Bhuchar, CEO of the Meesho e-commerce platform The discussion generated a number of useful ideas that will make it possible to create a structure for the scheme that makes sense.

The Ministry of MSME moderated the fourth breakout session, “Structure of the scheme and implementation framework,” which focused primarily on the scheme’s implementation framework, stakeholders’ roles, interest rates, guarantee coverage, convergence with other schemes, identification of beneficiaries, and other topics. Padma Shri Shri V.K. Munusamy, an expert terracotta and pottery artist, Shri Vishwanathan Achary, an innovator and coordinator for traditional artisans, and Ms. Kevisedenuo Margaret Zinyu, an expert designer, were among the panelists. Shri Amit Mohan Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Mudita Mishra, Shri Mukesh Kumar Bansal, Shri Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, Shri Vinit Kumar, CEO of KVIC, and Ms. Shalini Pandey, Director of MoHUA, were among the other panelists.

The getaway sessions were followed by a closing session co-headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Textiles, Smt. Rachana Shah and Shri B.B. Swain, Secretary (MSME). The sessions included Dr Rajneesh, AS&DC (MSME), Shri Nilambuj Sharan (Senior Economic Adviser, M/o Skill Development and Entrepreneurship), Ms. Shubhra (Trade Adviser & DC (Handicrafts & Handlooms, M/o Textiles) and Shri Mukesh Kumar Bansal, JS (Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance). The panelists concluded the emerging points out of the discussions held in their respective sessions.