MSME Day 2024: Govt launches Rs 277 cr scheme to help MSMEs get on ONDC; Yashasvini campaign for women-led units

MSME Day 2024: Commemorating the MSME Day 2024 on Thursday, MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi launched a new Trade Enablement & Marketing (TEAM) scheme with an outlay of Rs 277.35 crore for three years (2024-27) to boost e-commerce access for MSEs (micro and small enterprises) via the government’s open e-commerce network Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

With challenges faced by MSEs in accessing e-commerce such as limited digital access, financial constraints and lack of confidence in operating via digital platforms, the TEAM scheme aims to support Udyam-registered MSEs with catalogue development and onboarding on ONDC along with account management support.

Moreover, subsidies will be provided to MSEs under the scheme for transportation and logistics and packaging including packaging designs.

The ministry said it expects 5 lakh MSEs to benefit from the scheme in three years, 50 per cent of which would be women-owned enterprises.

Moreover, to create awareness about the scheme among MSEs and onboarding onto ONDC, the ministry said it would organise 150 e-commerce workshops in tier 2, 3 cities and MSME Clusters.

The scheme has been launched under the World Bank-supported RAMP programme and will be implemented by NSIC (National Small Industries Corporation).

In his launch address, Manjhi said the ministry has identified six pillars based on which the MSME-related initatives are built — first, formalization and access to credit; second, increased access to market and e-commerce adoption; third, increased productivity through modern technology; fourth, enhanced skill levels and digitalization in the service sector; fifth, support to khadi, village, and coir industry to globalize them; sixth, empowerment of women, artisans, through enterprise creation.

The minister also launched a Yashasvini campaign focusing on supporting 1 lakh women entrepreneurs in smaller cities with skilling and capacity building.

“The campaign is dedicated to women MSMEs. We will have increased campaigns in tier 2 and 3 cities as skilling and capacity building is another element of the campaign and in one year we want to handhold and support 1 lakh women entrepreneurs,” said Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, MSME Ministry