How West Bengal Celebrates National Small Industry Day – GetBengal story
The Indian subcontinent is filled with many talents and services that you will find nowhere else in the world. But due to financial constraints, poor exposure, or extenuating circumstances, many small-scale enterprises cannot survive the vagaries of this country. Some crumble after a few years because they are never provided with the resources necessary to survive. To support such small-scale industries that not only impact this country's culture and heritage but also provide a livelihood to many and employment to the unemployed, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries introduced a comprehensive policy package with the goal of promoting the growth of small enterprises by means of infrastructure and technology development. The Center formally proclaimed August 30 to be National Small Industry Day a year later.
National Small Industry Day is celebrated on the 30th of August every year in India, with the aim of recognizing the contributions of small industries to the economy of this country and promoting small industries to help increase a sense of self-sufficiency and provide employment opportunities to people. The day is also observed to motivate small industrial businesses and assist in the establishment of new ones. It provides thousands of people with jobs. The existence of small-scale industries is vital for a third-world country like India; they are the backbone, provide economic stability, and accelerate the overall development of the country. The government has come up with policies and strategies to place emphasis on the need to uplift small-scale industries. The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Department of West Bengal has been supporting many craft heritage businesses to preserve them and ensure that these artforms do not die. This not only supplements the small-scale enterprise but also helps it develop even further. The government has come up with schemes that encourage and enhance the skills of the handicraft sector in particular. These promotions and strategies have helped craftsmen and also caused significant growth in the industry itself.
The Directorate of MSME, Government of West Bengal, is the primary body in the state, and as the facility provider, the Directorate is responsible for implementing programs and schemes for the development of enterprises. The DIC and Sub-DIC sectors that are located in different parts of the state make sure that the effects of these promotional activities reach small villages and small-scale artisans.
The government also organises district-level handicraft fairs and state expos in Kolkata to give a direct platform to the handicraft artisans and give their art more exposure. Some talented artists are chosen to represent them on national and international platforms.
Some promotional strategies utilised by the MSME Department of West Bengal are:
District-level fairs
The DICs and Sub-DICs participate in district-level fairs to directly support the artisans and provide them with marketing support. That's not all, because the MSME Department also supports the artisans by providing them with grants and allowances and reimbursing the artists for travel costs, etc., for their participation in fairs, expos, and exhibitions.
Also read : Women Entrepreneurs in Bengal’s MSME
Awards and remuneration
To encourage the small cottage industries, the MSMS Department also organises competitions in every district, where winners of the most creative and innovative designs are awarded prizes and remuneration. Initiatives like these keep the artisans on their toes and ensure that they keep creating new designs and keep reinventing and evolving their art.
Old Age Pension
The Directorate of MSME has been executing the Scheme of Old Age Pension to Handicraft and Village Industry Craftsmen in order to promote handicrafts and aid the cause of handicraft craftsmen. Approximately 3,200 craftsmen working in the handicraft and village industries in West Bengal who are at least 60 years old and do not have any other source of income are given a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 under this scheme.
Artisan Credit Card
A credit card has been issued to handicraft artisans to provide them with easy access to capital so that they can keep up their small business. It makes it very easy for them to avail loans of up to 2 lakh rupees from banks.
These small industries are further assisted by emporiums and showrooms like The Bengal Store. A store that has a massive catalogue of the products listed above from all over the districts of West Bengal. Here is a comprehensive list of the different kinds of small handicraft industries in West Bengal and the areas they are based in:
The Bengal Store works to find and collaborate with the artisans and small family businesses who create these unique handicrafts. You can find a large variety of these items at the store, with a constantly renewing stock. The existence of stores like this, who elevate artisans, compensate them fairly, and promote ancient crafts to contemporary art lovers from all around the globe, is exceptionally important.
