Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) today organized first-ever National Vendor Development programme under National Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) scheme for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at Leh.District Development Commissioner Leh Avny Lavasa was the chief guest on the occasion, who inaugurated the event.SSP Leh-Sargun Shukla, Financial Adviser and Chief Accounts Officer, KVIB and other concerned attended the function.On the occasion, DDC exhorted upon the SC-ST entrepreneurs to avail benefits of central and state-sponsored schemes, especially schemes implemented by J&K KVIB.“NSSH envisages the holistic development of SC-ST community. It includes economic growth, social development and generation of employment,” said DDC, adding that Khadi products are unadulterated, but the unitholders associated with this sector are facing marketing problems.Appreciating the role of J&K KVIB, DDC said that J&K KVIB is providing an important and significant forum for marketing support.“Being small industries, the unitholders lack proper knowledge about various marketing initiatives, including tendering process and I expect J&K KVIB through its various interventions to keep these unit holders aware about these initiatives,” said DDC.Giving details about the scheme, FA&CAO said that NSSH is an initiative of the Government of India to develop a supportive ecosystem to focus on the growth of SC-ST Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He said, “Government of India has formulated Public Procurement policy for MSMEs in 2012, which states that 20% of total procurement of goods and services by central ministries, departments and public sector undertakings shall be made from MSMEs and 4 per cent of such procurement shall be made from MSME owned by SC-ST entrepreneurs.” “The main thrust of this programme is to bring both buyer and seller on one table to discuss and further resolve their queries and problems regarding the procurement process,” said Ashraf Iqbal Haqla.On the occasion, SSP Leh-Sargun Shukla urged upon the youth to avail benefits of the various schemes under J&K KVIB, which will certainly contain crime in the region.Administrative Commandant-Col Suvit Khanna while deliberating upon the procurement process of Army said that they are following directions of the central government.“We cannot procure directly from the market, we have to follow the directives from the central government, which says every procurement must be made from GemPortal,” said Adm Commandant, he further requested all the unit holders to get registered on GemPortal, so that they can be given preference during procurement.The meeting was organised with an aim to facilitate ease of doing business. Over 30 vendors were part of the meeting, while as representatives from various departments including Horticulture, Sheep Husbandry, SICOP, Border Road Organisation, Army, ITBP, Health and School Education besides others shared the process of procurement procedures.Traders Association of Ladakh, Ladakh Manufacturing Association, Ladakh Tours and Travels Association, Kargil Traders Association among others also participated in the event.