(From right) National working president, Forum of SC and ST Legislators Parliamentarians, Inder IS Atwal, Commissioner & secretary, Industries & Commerce, Lithrongla G Chishi, zonal general manager, NSIC North East, Dr. Avinash Choudhary and Branch manager (NSSH), NSIC, Peter Thawngneihchina, addressing the media. (Morung Photo by Soreishim Mahong)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 4
In a major push to reach out to struggling local entrepreneurs, the National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) is organizing a National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Nagaland State Conclave at Agri Expo, 4 Mile, Dimapur, on Tuesday.
NSSH, an initiative of the Ministry of Micro, Small& Medium Enterprise, is a central sector scheme launched with an aim to create a supportive ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs by assisting them in capacity building and thereby enabling them to effectively participate in public procurement process.
The scheme is organically linked to the Public Procurement Policy, 2012, of the Government of India, which states that 25% of total procurement of goods and services by central ministries, departments and CPSEs shall be made from MSEs and 25% of such procurement (4% of total) from MSEs shall be made from SC & ST owned MSEs.
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Saramati on the eve of the conclave, zonal general manager, NSIC North East, Dr. Avinash Choudhary, said to realize the objectives of NSSH, it was imperative to develop cognizance with all the stakeholders on implementation of public procurement policy. Avinash said the conclave would bring together CPSEs, industry associations and state government on a common platform and deliberate upon steps to be taken to fulfill the Public Procurement Policy for SC-ST entrepreneurs.
He also informed that the conclave is aimed at coalescing efforts taken by all the stakeholders towards creating a supportive ecosystem for inclusive growth SC-ST entrepreneurs.
Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland, Lithrongla G Chishi, who also attended the press conference said the conclave would provide an opportunity to local entrepreneurs to know and update on the schemes and facilities provided by the Government of India as many entrepreneurs are in the dark with regard to central schemes.
National working president, Forum of SC and ST Legislators Parliamentarians, Inder IS Atwal, said NSSH is a very important initiative in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to empower SCs and STs. Atwal who is also the director general of Dr. Ambedkar Chamber of Commerce, informed that earlier during his meeting with Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, the latter had assured to bring out the state’s own procurement policy. “Both the Governor and chief minister are interested to promote this scheme in Nagaland”, he added.
Branch manager (NSSH), NSIC, Peter Thawngneihchina, said the Ministry of MSME through National SC-ST Hub, is continuously striving to achieve its objectives and that the conclave would give a brief on all ongoing activities and also give a snapshot on the roadmap for the near future.
Advisor, Industries& Commerce, Imnatiba and commissioner & secretary, Lithrongla G Chishi, will grace the conclave as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
