The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Tamil Nadu have made their suggestions to the Central and State governments ahead the Lok Sabha election. This sector, the backbone of the big industries, has suffered several blows in the last decade — the 2015 Chennai floods that wiped out many businesses and kept many others for months to revive; the demonetisation of the ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes; the GST roll-out; and the COVID-19 pandemic. The more recent crisis they faced was Cyclone Michaung.
C.K. Mohan, president, Tamilnadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (Tanstia), says, “Tanstia has been neglected for years without representation on the National Board for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. We request to be included in the Board to voice the grievances of these units.” He adds that in Tamil Nadu, the database pertaining to the manufacturing industries is not correct. This issue must be looked into. He suggests that the government create a database (of the industries having power connection) with the help of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited. “Tanstia can do this, if funds are allocated,” he says.
Citing the impact of the recent floods in the southern districts and Cyclone Michaung in Chennai and surrounding areas, the heads of the MSMEs across the State have demanded that they be considered for relief from the National Disaster Response Fund.
