What are the reasons behind the merger of the small-scale industries and agro-rural industries ministries?
Worldwide, small-scale industries and agro-rural industries are together known as small & medium enterprises (SMEs). We have tried to do the same in this country. With the enactment of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, small-scale industries are now termed the SME sector. Medium enterprises have also been brought into the gamut and, accordingly, the ministries if small-scale industries and agro-rural industries are now a single entity. We hope the clubbing together of these two ministries will bring more synergy and, therefore, higher efficiency. Why is the government also considering the merger of the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP)? The PMRY was introduced in 1993 with a view to generating skill-based employment in urban areas for the educated unemployed. However, the PMRY was extended to cover rural areas in 1994-95. The PMRY is, thus, left with no exclusivity. In comparison to the REGP, the PMRY suffers
