The Union Ministry of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) has chalked out a plan for promotion of Khadi and handicrafts from Kerala. The ministry will also run schemes at the panchayat level for self employment.

MSME secretary Chandrapal inaugurated a ‘National workshop on employment opportunities for unemployed youth in Kerala’ Thiruvanantpuram recently. He said that providing large-scale employment, computer literacy and skill development of the small entrepreneurs would be on the agenda of the Union Ministry of MSMEs.

For starting any workable venture by MSMEs, 80 percent of the grant will be provided by the Centre. The state government has to ensure that the youths are moulded to look for self-employment rather than opting for white collar jobs, he said.

Industries principal secretary T Balakrishnan said that a member from every family would be made computer literate and that Malappuram would be the first district to begin with.

For the promotion of Kerala products, particularly from MSMEs, a world class shopping centre will be set up in the state under public private partnership (PPP).

Mr. T BalaKrishnan declared that in December-January, a Grand Kerala Shopping Festival will be organized to promote the state’s products at the cost of around Rs 15 crore. A Garment Park, proposed by Kinfra in the state, will supply readymade garments to retail giants such as Walmart, he added.

It was also suggested that a branch office of the National Institute of Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (NIMSME) should be started in the state for skill development of small entrepreneurs.

The Hyderabad-based NIMSME principal director Dr C Kondaiah, National Small Industries Development Corporation chairman and managing director H P Kumar, Khadi and Village Industries Commission deputy chief executive officer (South zone) K K Gupta, RBI deputy general manager R N Panigrahi, Nabard general manager K Dhanapalan and Canara Bank general manager P Mohanan also spoke on the occasion.

Mr. Rakesh Joshi

Joshi Enterprise

Manager, Joshi Enterprise
Dispur, India

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