(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Dec 1 (KNN) The Government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at strengthening the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, focusing on digital enablement, improved access to finance, timely payments, technology adoption, and regulatory ease.

The initiatives were detailed by Minister of State, MSMEs, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

Among the key measures is the Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative, a sub-scheme under the Central Sector programme Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP).

With an outlay of Rs 277.35 crore for 2024–27, TEAM seeks to empower 5 lakh micro and small enterprises (MSEs), with half expected to be women-owned, by leveraging digital public infrastructure.

The scheme provides direct access to the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), offering ready-made online storefronts, integrated payment solutions, and logistics support.

By enabling onboarding and cataloguing through ONDC's interoperable systems, the initiative reduces the need for MSMEs to build independent e-commerce platforms.

The TEAM portal digitally registers enterprises, captures business profiles, and matches them with Seller Network Participants (SNPs) to streamline onboarding and ongoing digital support. Capacity-building workshops are also planned to help MSMEs fully leverage e-commerce opportunities.

In addition to digital empowerment, the Ministry highlighted a broad range of financial support measures.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) received an additional Rs 9,000 crore corpus to facilitate Rs 2 lakh crore in low-cost credit, with the guarantee ceiling raised to Rs 10 crore and coverage of up to 90 per cent.

The Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme provides margin money subsidies of up to 35 per cent for new micro-enterprises, while the PM Vishwakarma scheme offers loans of up to Rs 3 lakh with interest subvention of up to 8 per cent to artisans and craftsmen.

The Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund has been set up to channel Rs 50,000 crore in equity funding to MSMEs, with Rs 10,000 crore from the government and the balance through private equity and venture capital.

To address delayed payments, the Ministry operates the SAMADHAAN portal and 161 Micro & Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils (MSEFCs).

The recently launched Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) portal provides fully digital resolution of payment disputes.

The Reserve Bank of India's Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) further facilitates electronic financing of MSME receivables from corporates, government departments, and PSUs.

For technology adoption, several schemes are in place, including the MSE-Cluster Development Programme (Common Facility Centres), Tool Rooms and Technology Centres, the Green Investment Financing for Transformation (GIFT) scheme, and the MSME Champions Programme.

On the ease of doing business, the Ministry has streamlined registration and compliance processes.

The Udyam Registration Portal, launched in July 2020, offers fully online and paperless registration, while the Udyam Assist Platform, introduced in January 2023, brings informal micro-enterprises into the formal sector, enabling access to Priority Sector Lending.

Compliance burdens under the Public Procurement Policy for MSMEs have been reduced, and the National Single Window System integrates central and state regulatory clearances to simplify approvals.

(KNN Bureau)

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