IT News
Imphal, Jan 16:
Despite significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing crises, Manipur is making steady progress on its development journey, said Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today.
Speaking at a state-level workshop on the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization (UNNATI) and Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) schemes, organized by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce, and Industries at the City Convention Centre, the Chief Minister outlined the state’s advancements across various sectors.
He highlighted the positive impact of the Start-Up Scheme, launched in 2018, which has generated substantial employment opportunities for unemployed youth and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Over 300 IDPs have secured jobs through the scheme, and products developed by its beneficiaries are now being exported to other states and even abroad.
The Chief Minister also discussed the UNNATI-2024 scheme, aimed at strengthening the industrial ecosystem in the northeastern region and attracting new investments. For Manipur, Rs 334 crore has been allocated under the scheme, with an additional Rs 4100 crore available for the region.
“Manipur may constitute just 0.2% of India’s total population, but its contribution to the MSME sector stands at 0.3%, which is an incredible achievement,” the Chief Minister said, urging citizens to actively contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Manipur has also become a leader in MSME business registrations among northeastern states. According to the 2018-19 report from the Ministry of MSME, the state registered 12,458 MSMEs, with a significant portion of these businesses led by women entrepreneurs.
The Chief Minister called on the public to focus on entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on government jobs, stressing the benefits of the Credit Guarantee Scheme. While the government has allocated Rs 700 crore for this scheme, only Rs 200 crore has been utilized due to limited applications. He also encouraged families to take advantage of the One Family One Livelihood Scheme to promote sustainable economic growth.
To further support entrepreneurs, he proposed organizing buyer-seller meets to help local producers connect with potential buyers.
In closing, the Chief Minister urged the people of Manipur to make the most of government schemes and contribute to the state’s economic development. “With collective effort and collaboration, Manipur can achieve new heights of progress and prosperity,” he concluded.