Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Union Minister for MSME Jitan Ram Manjhi reviewed the implementation of MSME schemes in Ladakh during a visit that marked a notable first, with officials noting he is the first Union Minister from the Ministry of MSME to ever visit the Union Territory since its formation.
The review meeting, held in Leh, brought together a cross-section of officials and stakeholders, including Joint Secretary Vinamra Mishra, Private Secretary to the Minister Surendra Prasad Pant, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, Director of Industries and Commerce for Ladakh M.A. Bhatt, Joint Director of the MSME Development and Facilitation Office Amit Kumar Tamaria, State Director of KVIC Rajesh Kumar, General Manager of the District Industries Centre Leh A.G. Zargar, and representatives from banks, entrepreneurs and MSME associations.
The session opened with a presentation from Director Bhatt outlining the MSME ecosystem in Ladakh and the progress achieved under various schemes implemented by the department. Joint Secretary Mishra underscored the significance of the visit, noting the sector’s substantial contribution to employment generation and India’s broader economic growth, while highlighting the Ministry’s flagship initiatives for the region.
An interactive session followed, during which entrepreneurs, bankers and industry representatives raised concerns relating to scheme implementation, credit access, subsidies and market linkages, all of which were discussed in detail with clarifications provided by officials present.
In his address, Manjhi referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting employment generation and citizen empowerment through the MSME sector, noting that small and medium enterprises carry a relatively low carbon footprint, making them particularly well suited to ecologically sensitive regions such as Ladakh. He praised the Udyam Registration Portal for simplifying enterprise registration and called for wider awareness campaigns to help more aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, access government schemes meant to improve their livelihoods. He assured participants that the issues raised during the meeting would be addressed in a timely manner, reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to the sector’s holistic development in the region.
The visit also took the Minister to PMEGP-supported enterprises in Leh, where he appreciated local entrepreneurs for their initiative, as well as the Self-Employed Women’s Association Skill Training Centre and KVIC’s Centre for Rural Enterprise Acceleration through Technology at Handloom Bhawan. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Joint Director Amit Kumar Tamaria.
