Other Backward Classes (OBC) own nearly 30% of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the country.
As on March 31, 2022, the number of MSMEs owned by OBCs was 23.31 lakh units, out of a total of about 80.16 lakh units in the country. Of the OBC-owned units, around 41% are located in three States — Tamil Nadu (14.5%), Maharashtra (14.4%) and Rajasthan (12.4%), according to a perusal of the data furnished by the Office of the MSME Development Commissioner exclusively to The Hindu. The data was compiled on the basis of the units that have registered themselves with the authorities through the Udyam portal.
According to the social category-wise distribution, the General Category accounts for the highest share of the MSME units with 61.8%. In absolute figures, there are 49.56 lakh units belonging to this category. As many as 6.8% of the units — around 5.43 lakh — are owned by the Scheduled Castes, while the Scheduled Tribes run about 1.68 lakh units with 2.1% share. A little over 18,000 units come under the category of “Unidentified”.
