The Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: To generate more employment through micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Odisha government is planning to launch a new scheme ‘Biju Atma Nijukti Yojana’, a self-employment programme.

Under the scheme, loans and subsidies will be provided to youths to set up small and micro enterprises, official sources said.

“We have already prepared the draft of the scheme. It will be sent for the concurrence of finance department. Thereafter it will be placed before the cabinet for approval,” said MSME secretary Panchanan Dash.

“We plan to generate one lakh jobs in 2015-16 through the MSME sector,” he added.

The sources said the department is also planning to launch another self-employment scheme to generate employment in khadi and village industries.

He said the government would bring in a procurement policy, making it mandatory for the state-run public sector undertakings and departments to procure at least 20% of their products and service needs from small and medium enterprises in the state. It would be in line with the Centre’s policy. He said 4% procurement should be from MSMEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Also, formulation of a new MSME development policy is underway, the sources said. To facilitate infrastructure to the MSME entrepreneurs, a separate body will be created on the lines of Idco.

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