IMPORTANCE OF THE MSMES TO THE ECONOMY: CHALLENGES AND MEASURES

Abstract

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy over the last five decades. It contributes significantly in the economic and social development of the country by fostering entrepreneurship and generating large employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost, next only to agriculture. MSMEs are complementary to large industries as ancillary units and this sector contributes significantly in the inclusive industrial development of the country. The MSMEs are widening their domain across sectors of the economy, producing diverse range of products and services to meet demands of domestic as well as global markets. In a country like India with a population size of about 1.3 billion, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has a vital role in the economy. It fosters entrepreneurship and generates large employment opportunities. As MSMEs absorb the surplus agricultural labour, they help reduce the problem of disguised unemployment in rural areas. MSMEs are also complementary to large industries as ancillary units and also play an important role in the whole eco-system of the secondary and tertiary sector. The MSME sector is passing through a challenging phase. A micro enterprise is an enterprise whose investment in plant, machinery and equipment does not exceed Rs. 1 crore, and turnover does not exceed Rs. 5 crore. A small enterprise is an enterprise whose investment in plant, machinery and equipment does not exceed Rs. 10 crore, and turnover does not exceed Rs. Earlier industries that manufactured goods and provided services on a small scale or micro-scale basis were granted Small Scale Industries (SSI) registration by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries.  However, after the government passed the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Act in 2006, the small and micro-scale industries came under the MSME Act. On 9 May 2007, subsequent to the amendment of the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, the Ministry of Small Scale Industries and the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries were merged to form the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Thus, the SSIs are included under the Ministry of MSME. Currently, the SSIs are classified as small or micro-scale industries based on the turnover and investment limits provided under the MSME Act and they need to obtain MSME registration. The government provides many benefits to the small scale industries having MSME registration at present. This paper  underlining the importance of the MSMEs to the economy and challenges faced by them and measures undertaken by the Reserve Bank.