“In the current fiscal, 7,140 MSMEs have been promoted till June 2015 creating jobs for 22,792 persons.”
Odisha Government has set a target to generate 0.4 million new jobs by promoting 0.15 million enterprises in the MSME(micro, small & medium enterprises) sector during 2015-19.
The Directorate of Industries has submitted “Roadmap for Employment Generation in MSME segment during 2015-19” to the MSME department.
While 85,000 jobs will be created by promoting 34,000 MSME units in 2015-16, the target for 2016-17 is 93,600 jobs through 36,000 new units in the state.
In the balance two years, it is targeted to generate employment opportunities for 102,600 and 118,800 youths in 38,000 and 42,000 MSME units respectively.
The MSME department is giving final touches to its (EDP) for fostering entrepreneurship in the state.
The policy would stress on measures like creation of awareness, promotion, skill development, networking and mentoring besides attempting to change the mindset of target groups. The policy aims at conducting entrepreneurship development programmes at block level and later providing handholding support to the youths to help them become entrepreneurs. It also promises seven per cent interest subvention on bank loans to start up micro and small enterprises.
“We have sought the views of the stake holders on the draft Entrepreneurship Development policy. The policy is likely to be placed before the state cabinet within two month for approval. Meanwhile, the guidelines for implementing the provisions of the policy to promote entrepreneurship is being finalised,” said a government official.
Plans are also afoot to set up mini food parks , industrial estates and mega food parks in all districts of the state. The general managers of district industries centre (DICs) and regional industries centre (RICs) have been asked to identify suitable patches of lands, the official added.
Prasanta Patnaik