The Hindu : National : We have fulfilled CMP commitment: Manmohan

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We have fulfilled CMP commitment: Manmohan

Sujay Mehdudia

Small enterprises play key role in inclusive growth, he says

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presents the National Award for Excellence in MSE lending to H.A. Daruwalla, Chairman and Managing Director Central Bank of India, in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asserted that the United Progressive Alliance government had fulfilled “much” of its commitment under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

“I am happy to say that in the last four and half years we have accomplished much in keeping with our commitments,” he said after giving away national awards to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs here.

He said small enterprises played an important role in ensuring inclusive growth, which was also regionally balanced. The NCMP underscored this point.

Dr. Singh said his government addressed long-standing issues through major institutional reforms. These included enactment of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Act, amendments to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, a comprehensive package for micro and small enterprises and setting up of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector.

Under the National Action for Skill Development, the government had set an ambitious target of training 500 million youths by 2020 in keeping with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s vision of Rozgar Badhao.

Seeking the help of the States in this endeavour, Dr. Singh said he had written to Chief Ministers to consider keeping open institutions of high school and above level after class hours for those engaged in developing skills of youth. On the cluster programme, he said the government had identified six centres — two each for handlooms, powerlooms and handicrafts — for development as mega industrial enclaves. “Through these initiatives, we intend to significantly scale up the production of MSMEs located in these clusters for both domestic and global markets.”

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