Lok Sabha Question No. 5320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Improvement in Skills of Workforce in MSME Sector
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5320 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2025

## IMPROVEMENT IN SKILLS OF WORKFORCE IN MSME SECTOR

5320.         SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) the initiatives being taken to improve the skills of the workforce in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector particularly women and young entrepreneurs in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
- (b) the measures being taken to encourage the MSME sector to adopt advanced technology and improve their productivity?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a): The  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  &  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME)  has  developed  a  skilling  ecosystem  to  meet  the  demand  of  skilled  workforce  in  the  various  emerging  and  traditional  sectors  in different  segments  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises.  The  Skill  training  programmes  are conducted by a network of institutions under the Ministry i.e. Khadi & Village Industry Commission (KVIC), Coir Board, National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), National Institutes for MSME (NI-MSME) and MSME - Technology Centres (TCs).

The Ministry has been organizing a number of skill development programmes/ courses for the existing  & potential  entrepreneurs,  in  order  to  build  their  capacity.  These  training  courses  are  as  per demands of industry, a pathway to fill up the gap of requirement of skilled workforce in the MSME sector in consonance with the changing landscape of the MSME Ecosystem and its present challenges in India.

The  Ministry  is  also  implementing  the  Entrepreneurship  and  Skill  Development  Programme (ESDP) Scheme to enhance entrepreneurial skills of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with a focus on women as well as young entrepreneurs. These ESDP programs are conducted through field offices of O/o DC (MSME), Technology Centres, and other premier implementing agencies like IITs//IIMs/NITs/CSIRs/ICARs agriculture universities and other central and state universities.

The  details  of  beneficiaries  in  Dadra  and  Nagar  Haveli  under  ESDP  scheme  in  last  3  years (2022-23 to 2024-25) under the ESDP scheme is detailed below:

| S. No.   | Years   | Programmes Conducted   | Total Beneficiaries   | Beneficiaries   | Beneficiaries   |
|----------|---------|------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| S. No.   | Years   | Programmes Conducted   | Total Beneficiaries   | Male            | Female          |
| 1        | 2022-23 | 8                      | 608                   | 313             | 295             |
| 2        | 2023-24 | 12                     | 467                   | 147             | 320             |
| 3        | 2024-25 | 20                     | 1163                  | 583             | 580             |
| Total    | Total   | 40                     | 2238                  | 1043            | 1195            |

(b): The  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small,  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME)  has  implemented  several initiatives to encourage MSMEs to adopt advanced technology and enhance productivity, namely:-

MSME  Champions  Schemes: This  comprehensive  initiative  aims  to  support  MSMEs  in  various aspects,  including  technology  up  gradation,  pickup  enterprises  and  modernize  their  processes,  reduce wastages,  improve  productivity,  sharpen  business  competitiveness,  and  facilitate  their  National  and Global reach.

It comprises of three components i.e.,

- i) MSME-Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme (launched on 28.04.2022)
2. ii) MSME-Competitive (Lean) Scheme (launched on 10.03.2023)
3. iii) MSME-Innovative (Incubation, Design & IPR) Scheme (launched on 10.3.2022).

Under the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme component, there is a provision for Support  in  Technology  Upgradation  for  Zero  Effect  Solutions,  for  Up-to  Rs.  3  lakhs  for  all  ZED Certified MSMEs.

The  Ministry  of  MSME,  Government  of  India,  established  18  Technology  Centres  (TCs) between 1967 and 1999, previously known as Tool Rooms (10) and Technology Development Centres (8),  to  support  industries,  particularly  MSMEs,  by  providing  access  to  advanced  manufacturing technologies,  skilling  manpower  in  technology  development,  and  offering  technical  and  business advisory support.

Ministry  of  Micro  Small  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME) is  also  implementing  a  scheme, 'Establishment of new Technology Centres/Extension Centres', to establish 20 new Technology Centres (TCs)  and  100  Extension  Centres  (ECs)  across  the  Country to  increase  geographical  reach  of  TCs network to provide solution as per local needs of MSMEs for technology, skilled human resources, and advisory services. This will increase competitiveness and profitability of MSMEs at grass root level.

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