Jammu, 31 March (H.S.): The Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Industries & Commerce Department to assess the progress and impact of the MSME Health Clinic established under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme, aimed at revitalizing stressed and sick industrial units across Jammu and Kashmir.

Emphasizing the need for a robust and result-oriented approach, the Chief Secretary directed the department to optimally leverage available institutional and human resources. He stressed that, in addition to technical support from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, the department should actively utilize the expertise of Functional Managers, resources from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), and faculty and students from universities across the Union Territory.

He underscored the importance of constituting multidisciplinary teams comprising professionals and trained interns to carry out a structured assessment of MSMEs. These teams, he noted, should initially undertake virtual evaluations followed by field visits for on-the-spot assessment and advisory support to units requiring intervention. He also called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools to streamline the diagnostic process and determine the severity and nature of interventions required.

The Chief Secretary further advised the department to set realistic daily and monthly targets to ensure timely outreach to MSMEs, either through digital platforms or physical visits. He stressed that each unit should be systematically evaluated and categorized as stable, stressed, or sick, followed by the provision of appropriate advisory and financial assistance in coordination with Jammu & Kashmir Bank to facilitate their stabilization and revival.

Highlighting the need for innovative financial solutions, he suggested exploring collaboration with J&K Bank for addressing financial stress among MSMEs, including examining possibilities of loan restructuring in line with the bank’s internal policies and regulatory framework.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar