With Odisha moving ahead to draw more investment in various sectors, the State administration has urged the Ministry of MSME (MoMSME) to set up at least two technology centres in the State.
While the MoMSME is setting up at least 15 new technology centres in the country, Odisha has not received a single new centre, rued a senior official in the DoMSME.
Way back in 90s, Odisha received a central tool room, which is not only performing exceedingly well but also helping out the State in skill development in a big way.
Almost all the neighbouring and other States have received new technology centres, whereas Odisha is missing the facility though the State needs it more under the backdrop of MSME sector growth.
So the State Government has urged the Union Government to set up two technology centres at Rourkela and Brahmapur, as both the industrial zones require tech support.
And industrially emerging zones like Baripada, Balangir and Jeypore need mini technology centres for the MSME sector.
Accordingly the State Government has approached the MoMSME for approving these tech centres for the State.
At present there are 18 technology centres in the country, while Odisha shares a single tool room.
And the Centre will be adding 15 more tech centres in the country, while Odisha will get none, rued a senior officer.
While there is a need for development of greenfield MSME parks in the country to assist the State for creation of suitable infrastructure, Odisha has urged the MoMSME to formulate a programme under central sector, so that the States will benefit.
On the line of aluminium and food processing parks, the MSME parks are needed much, which will boost infrastructure development for the sunrise sector.
The MoMSME is implementing the MSE-CDP to enhance competitiveness, collective efficiency, and sustainability of MSEs.
While MSE-CDP scheme is being implemented throughout the country with active involvement of the State Government covering a wide range of activities identification of clusters, formulation of proposals and implementation till projects are handed over to the concerned Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV)s consisting of a group of MSEs.
However, the State officials say that this scheme needs to be revisited as funds under the schemes are not flowing to State Government.
So the MSECDP scheme is needed to be reviewed and mid way corrections are to be taken up for benefit of the State, urged Odisha.
Several other Central schemes are not implemented through the State Governments including ZED, SC/ST Hub and Digital MSME.
These Central schemes are needed to be implemented through the State Government, pointed out ACS MSME lN Gupta in his letter to the MoMSME, said sources.
While the District Industries Centres (DICs) are playing pivotal role in development of the MSME Sector, these institutions are needed to be strengthened in terms of hardware and software.
Formulation of a suitable scheme for strengthening DICs will go a long way in helping out the MSME sector, said Gupta.