e-NGO National Programme

e-NGO National Programme

C/O- Digital Empowerment Foundation

44, III Floor, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi-110016

By- Human Welfare Association, Varanasi

Human Welfare Association is facilitating a process with the support of Digital Empowerment Foundation; New Delhi is going to launch an e-NGO program for the Preparation of a dedicated website of the NGO for the promotion of Handicraft and Handloom.  The services to the website, training to operate the website will be absolutely free from the DEF, New Delhi but they will charge minimum from NGO for Web Hosting and Facilitating the Web pages in unlimited manner for the NGO as one time contribution. The NGOs will be the owner of the website and they will directly run their websites after getting a proper training at local level.  It is an excellent opportunity to the NGOs who are working in the development sector for the promotion of the artisans, weavers, and other marginalized group in the society. The website will be the show case of their excellent work for the international as well as local community and various stakeholders of the world.

We have organized a 2 days orientation workshop on 16-17 January, 2011 at Varanasi for the NGOs who will be register for the website before 10th January, 2010.

A reliable database is a key input to policy decision-making process. This is more so for the micro and small enterprise (MSE) in view of its large size and wide disparity among the enterprises within the sector. The Office of the DC (MSME) conducts periodic census for strengthening/updating the database on MSE sector. So far, this office has conducted three censuses in the year 1971-72, 1992-93 and 2002-03. However, the limiting factor is the long gap between two censuses and the high cost involved in conducting census. In the intermittent period, two sources are used by this office for obtaining information/data on the status of the MSE sector. First is the District Industries Centres (DICs) of the State Governments, which furnish the updated information on the number of registered enterprises. But registered enterprises constitute only small percentage of the total number of enterprises, thereby leaving a huge data gap. The second important source is the MSE Associations, which are spread across the country. The present database with this office suggests the number of such Associations is in the vicinity of 350, including both National and State level, and are mainly sector/product specific. This Office has been using the services of these Associations from time to time, especially with regard to data on number of unregistered enterprises, production, exports, etc. relating to specific product groups like pump industry, drugs and pharmaceuticals, etc. However, limited availability of funds is the main constraint faced by these Associations in building a reliable database.

To strengthen the database for the MSE sector, the promotional package includes, inter alia, a new ‘Scheme for capacity building, strengthening of database and advocacy by Industry/Enterprise Associations’. The other proposal in this context is collection of statistics and information through annual sample surveys and quinquennial census.

The Associations of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) do not have adequate capacity to collect and interpret data relating to changes in the market scenario, owing to the limited availability of funds and in the absence of expertise in the matter. As a result, their articulation of views on specific issues concerning to their product groups leaves much to be desired. In spite of the fact that the Associations of the MSEs have been made members of the MSME Board and the members of the steering committees of certain national programmes for development of some products, their existing weakness prevent them from playing the expected role

Effectively even in their role as facilitators for their members in government assisted schemes like setting up of sub contracting exchanges, testing laboratories, etc., the capacity of these Associations has been found to be deficient. Associations play an important role in the Public Private Partnerships (PPP). Nevertheless, it is felt that many product groups go unheard because of their associations being weak. As a result they are not able to effectively participate in programmes and policies of the Government.

Therefore, this Scheme will be of great help to the Associations in playing positive role in the development of MSEs in the country and articulating their views on different aspects related to MSEs. To strengthen their role and increase their efficiency, financial assistance for the secretarial and advisory/extension services to selected national Associations are to be provided annually up to a maximum of Rs.5 lakh per Association depending upon the size and reach of the Association. Under the Scheme, the beneficiary Associations will be required to provide the regular manpower at their own cost and office space and also make an equivalent/matching contribution towards cost of modernization of their facilities and equipment and training of their personnel.

Further, there is a need to give due publicity to the initiatives taken by the Government for development of the MSE sector and have these issues regularly deliberated so that they can be improved upon for better and more effective implementation.  At present, there is no regular mechanism for having these issues deliberated but it is felt that MSE Associations can play a crucial role in this context. Various National and State level Organizations/ Associations concerned with the development of the MSE Sector have been organizing Seminars/ Symposiums/ Workshops from time to time. But these initiatives have been quite ad-hoc and are constrained by the availability of funds. The Ministry of MSME/Office of DC(MSME) have been periodically receiving requests from various Industry Associations/ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), etc. for sponsoring/providing financial support for holding Seminars/ Symposiums/Workshops on various issues concerning the MSME Sector. Such activities are an essential part of the Scheme for capacity building, strengthening of database and advocacy by Industry/Enterprise Associations. In view of this, the Ministry of MSME/Office of DC (MSME) has decided to provide financial support for holding Seminars/Symposiums/Workshops.

Under the Scheme, National/Regional/State/Local Level Industry Associations, which are registered for at least 3 years and are having a regular charter, list of members and audited accounts, etc; would be eligible for the financial assistance for strengthening of data base as well as for conducting Seminars/Symposiums/Workshops.

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