MSME Minister calls for greater awareness of flagship schemes to expand entrepreneurship in Ladakh

First MSME Union Minister to visit Ladakh reviews flagship programmes, interacts with entrepreneurs and visits PMEGP, KVIC and SEWA centres

LEH, JUNE 30: Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Jitan Ram Manjhi reviewed the implementation of flagship MSME schemes in Ladakh during a high-level meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Leh on June 29-30, emphasizing entrepreneurship, employment generation and sustainable economic development in the Union Territory.

The review meeting was attended by Joint Secretary (A&T), Ministry of MSME, Vinamra Mishra, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, Director Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, M.A. Bhatt, Joint Director, MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Kumar Tamaria, State Director of KVIC Rajesh Kumar, General Manager DIC Leh A.G. Zargar, along with representatives of banks, MSME associations, entrepreneurs and officials of the Industries and Commerce Department.

The meeting began with a presentation on the implementation of various MSME schemes in Ladakh. Director Industries and Commerce M.A. Bhatt provided an overview of the Union Territory’s MSME ecosystem and highlighted progress achieved under different government initiatives.

Addressing the gathering, Joint Secretary Vinamra Mishra said Manjhi was the first Union Minister from the Ministry of MSME to visit Ladakh. He highlighted the Ministry’s flagship initiatives and underscored the sector’s growing contribution to employment generation and India’s economic growth.

An interactive session followed, during which entrepreneurs, bankers and industry representatives raised issues related to scheme implementation, access to credit, subsidies and market linkages. Officials responded to the concerns and discussed possible solutions.

In his address, Manjhi highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote employment generation through the MSME sector. He observed that MSMEs have a relatively low carbon footprint and are well suited for sustainable economic development, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions such as Ladakh.

The Minister also appreciated the role of the Udyam Registration Portal in simplifying enterprise registration and stressed the need for wider awareness campaigns so that more aspiring entrepreneurs, especially from underprivileged sections, can benefit from government schemes.

Reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the MSME ecosystem in Ladakh, Manjhi assured stakeholders that issues and grievances raised during the meeting would be addressed promptly. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Amit Kumar Tamaria.

Visits KVIC CREATE Centre and PMEGP-supported enterprises

During his visit, the Minister also toured the Khadi and Village Industries Commission’s (KVIC) Centre for Rural Enterprise Acceleration through Technology (CREATE) at Handloom Bhawan in Leh. He observed the production process of woollen Pashmina yarn and praised the centre for combining technology with traditional craftsmanship to empower local artisans, generate employment and promote a self-reliant rural economy.

Manjhi also visited several enterprises supported under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), including Pure Ladakh (Water Packaging), Nilza Bakery and Ladakh Tissue. Interacting with entrepreneurs, he commended their innovation and dedication, describing PMEGP as a key initiative for promoting self-employment, encouraging local entrepreneurship and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Interacts with SEWA trainees

The Union Minister also visited the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Skill Training Centre in Leh, where a free skill development programme is being conducted with technical support from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization under the Ministry of MSME.

Reviewing the training programme, Manjhi interacted with trainees to understand their experiences and future aspirations. He appreciated their enthusiasm and confidence, observing that such initiatives are equipping women with modern skills and enhancing their participation in technology-driven livelihood opportunities.