Striving for a better economy of India on the back of manufacturing sector, Assocham organised ‘Manufacturing Conference-cum-Awards : Transform & Perform’ on August 22 at Hotel Shangri-La in New Delhi.
Speakers have poured in their thoughts and suggestions on what are the issues that the manufacturing sector is facing and what are the ways and means to promote the sector. SMEs sector acts as the backbone of the national economic structure and plays a crucial role in the manufacturing growth in India.
“It is important to realise the potential of the manufacturing sector. The sector is important in creating employment. Labour reforms should be taken into consideration as it becomes an important agenda at the centre stage. And policies should be flexible for the sector,” said Sushma Paul Birlia, Chairperson ASSOCHAM Economic Affairs Council and President, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group.
The SMEs unit is more concentrated in the manufacturing sector than in service sector. There are many start-ups that are doing well and employ people, and skill development plays a significant role in encouraging potential youth to start ahead with their own businesses and become job givers instead of job seekers. “Our aim as a country is to turn job seekers into job givers,” said Manguirish Pai Raiker, Chairman, ASSOCHAM MSME Council and Managing Director, Brown Packaging System Pvt. Ltd.
“SMEs are a larger set of employers, it is also important to recognise the skills of the youth and enhance their talents through vocational training and courses,” said Madhup Agrawal, National Head HR, IndiaMART.
As the labour market becomes more specialised, there is a great demand for skilled workers. “Vocational skills play a great role; but lack of appreciation from the society, these skills get deteriorated. SMEs need to handhold the Skill India dream,” Agrawal added.
Sangeeta Singh, Director, EY also said that states are paying due importance to enhance skills for the development of manufacturing industries in different regions.
Emphasizing on skills obtained from vocational training, Sanjay Srivastava, CEO, Gems Skill India Pvt. Ltd said, “ITI courses should be recognised and the government has set up a skill centre in Gujarat with the investment of 1 crore.”
India has no standard policy for skilling. It’s being done on whims: Sanjay Srivastava, CEO, Gems Skills India Pvt Ltd pic.twitter.com/6ixiGYhQUn
— DigitalAssocham (@DigitalAssocham) August 23, 2017
Adressing the delegates, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Home Affairs, also said that industry must be protected, secured and given confidence. “The role of MSMEs cannot be undermined. There is lack of support for SMEs and the government is looking forward to seek suggestions and guidance in order to promote the sector.”
As India depends largely on agriculture, it is high time that the country develops its workforce. “There is a need to migrate the workforce from agriculture to manufacture, and from manufacture to service sector,” said Ashok Agarwal, Head Manufacturing, Intex Technologies, Ltd.
Today's generation is job provider instead of seekers; #startupindia & #SkillIndia r bearing fruits: Manguirish Raiker of @DigitalAssocham pic.twitter.com/fMYMBZRrmj
— SMEpost (@SMEpost) August 22, 2017
Focussing on the challenges face by the MSMEs sector, start-ups and entrepreneurs should be taken into consideration. “There are many start-ups that have come up and doing very well, but are these start-ups being able to handle failure as well?” asked Girish Shankar, Secretary (HI) Department of Heavy Industries, Govt of India. “There is a need to encourage start-ups even at times of failure,” he added.
Many speakers mentioned a common view that creating a better and a friendly environment, having suitable policies and working together can drive the country’s economy.
