On July 14, 2025, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, organized an awareness program at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College Hospital, Odisha, to disseminate information on the National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) and other government initiatives for MSMEs. The program aimed to promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in Odisha.
The event was presided over by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for MSME, and attended by Shri Nityananda Gond, Minister of SC/ST Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Department, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Minister of State Independent Charge for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development and MSME Department, Government of Odisha, Shri Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister of State Independent Charge for Industries, Skill and Development and Technical Education, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha, Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha, and other dignitaries.
Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, CMD, NSIC, highlighted the Public Procurement Policy mandating 4% public procurement from SC/ST enterprises and 3% from women-owned enterprises. Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, provided details on flagship schemes for credit support, market linkage, skill development, and technology upgradation, including PM Vishwakarma, PMEGP, MSE CDP, ESDP, Tool Room, ZED Certification, Udyam Registration, and the Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme.
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje emphasized the significant role of MSMEs in the Indian economy, contributing nearly 30% to the GDP and over 45% to exports, with over 65.8 million units registered on the Udyam Portal employing over 280 million people. The program included interactive sessions with stakeholders such as CPSEs, financial institutions, GeM, and CSIR-NBRI, and technical sessions by KVIC, NSIC, Coir Board, MSMEDFO, NALCO, HAL, SBI, and SIDBI on vendor empanelment. Facilitation desks for Udyam Registration, GeM, PM Vishwakarma, and NSSH were available, along with product display stalls.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Micro, Small Medium Enterprises: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
National SC ST Hub: A Government of India initiative to support entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College Hospital, Odisha: The venue in Odisha where the awareness programme was held.
Odisha: A state in India where the awareness program was conducted to promote entrepreneurship.
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje: Union Minister of State for MSME who presided over the programme.
PM Vishwakarma: A government scheme related to skill development mentioned in the context of initiatives for the MSME sector.
PMEGP: Likely refers to Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, a scheme for creating employment opportunities, particularly in the MSME sector.
Viksit Bharat 2047: A visionary roadmap by the Prime Minister to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON NATIONAL SC-
ST HUB & OTHER SCHEMES FOR MSME AT
SAHEED LAXMAN NAYAK MEDICAL COLLEGE &
HOSPITAL, ODISHA ON 14th JULY 2025
Posted On: 14 JUL 2025 9:00PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India organised a one-day
awareness Programme for disseminating the information on National SC-ST Hub and other major initiatives
th
of Government of India for MSMEs on 14 July 2025 at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College & Hospital,
Odisha. The programme aimed to promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in the State of
Odisha.
The Programme presided by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for MSME in the
august presence of Shri Nityananda Gond, Minister SC-ST Development, Minority and Backward Classes
Welfare Department, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent
Charge) for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development and MSME Department, Government of Odisha,
Shri Sampad Chandra Swain, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Industries, Skill and
Development and Technical Education, Govt. of Odisha. The programme graced by Shri Balabhadra Majhi,
Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament
(Lok Sabha), Hon’ble Members of Legislative Assembly, Odisha and other dignitaries from Central and State
Government.Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, CMD, NSIC in his opening remarks, briefed all the dignitaries and
participants about the day’s agenda and described the Public Procurement Policy of Government of India
which mandated 4% public procurement from SC/ST enterprises and 3% from women enterprises. He said,
for inclusive growth, Ministry of MSME implements the National SC-ST Hub Scheme with an objective of
creating an ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs and handholding them to participate in the public procurement
to reach 4% mandate as per the public procurement policy.
Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, delivered a comprehensive
address on the various flagship schemes of the Ministry aimed at fostering inclusive growth and strengthening
the MSME ecosystem. She highlighted the major initiatives and schemes for credit support, market linkage,
skill development, technology upgradation etc. She also informed about PM Vishwakarma, PMEGP, MSE-
CDP, ESDP, Tool Room, ZED Certification, Udyam Registration, Procurement and Marketing Support
Scheme etc.
Addressing the programme, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Hon’ble Union Minister of State
emphasized the significant role of MSME in the Indian Economy. She stated that MSMEs not only
provide huge employment opportunities but also help in the industrialization of rural and backward
areas. She highlighted that the contribution of MSMEs is nearly 30% to the GDP and more than
45% to export from the country. The sector consists of more than 6.58 crore units registered in
Udyam Portal employing over 28 crore people. She also highlighted the potential of various
schemes of the Government to empower the MSME Sector. She said that the entrepreneurs of
Odisha State will explore innovative ideas and business opportunities and avail maximum benefits
of these schemes. She elaborated the visionary roadmap laid out by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for
Viksit Bharat 2047, aimed at transforming India into a fully developed nation.
The programme was also addressed by Hon’ble Ministers of Govt. of Odisha, Hon’ble Members of
Parliament and other dignitaries present on the dais. They urged the participants especially young
generation to avail the benefits of schemes implemented by the Central and State Government and
become entrepreneurs.
The programme provided an interactive platform for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to interact with the
stakeholders such as CPSEs, financial institutions, GeM, CSIR-NBRI etc. engaged in promotion of MSMEs.
A special technical session was also conducted wherein KVIC, NSIC, Coir Board, MSME-DFO, NALCO,
HAL, SBI and SIDBI made presentations on their vendor empanelment process and details of
products/services.The Programme also had facilitation desks of Udyam Registration, GeM, PM Vishwakarma, NSSH Scheme
for participants on the spot and also a few stalls for product display.
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(Release ID: 2144693)