SRINAGAR: An awareness program rally aimed at sensitizing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the Design Innovation scheme, a sub-component of MSME, concluded on Saturday in Jammu cluster.
The program was organized by the IIED Centre of NIT Srinagar and sponsored by the Ministry of MSME, New Delhi. It took place across various Industrial Clusters in Kashmir, including Bari Bharamana of Samba Industrial Estate, Katra cluster, and Jammu cluster.
Velladurai Jt., Director MSME, J&K and Dr Saad Parvez Head, IIEDC are the Chairman, Saheel Alaqband Assistant Director MSME, Srinagar and Dr Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Assistant Professor Mechanical is the Nodal Officer for MSME Design & IPR Scheme are the convenor of the program and Dr Noor Zaman Khan and Dr Ved Parkash are the coordinator of the event.
Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath and Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman said MSMEs are the major sources of employment having a 30% GDP contribution of the Indian economy, particularly in developing countries where large-scale industries are limited.
“There is a need for such industries in the region and NIT Srinagar is committed to use its resources for the benefit of the Indian Economy,” they said.
The program commenced with a welcome address delivered by Tarun Singla, Senior Vice President of the Bari Bhraman Industrial Association. He extended a warm welcome to the President of BBIA, Shri. Lalith Mahajan, and other industrialists participating in the program.
Singla expressed gratitude to Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, the Nodal Officer for the MSME awareness program in Jammu and Kashmir.
President of Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate, Mr. Lalith Mahajan, highlighted that Bari Bhraman is the oldest industrial cluster in Samba, Jammu, boasting over 400 industries encompassing diverse sectors such as steel, plastic, pharmaceuticals, distilleries, and chemical industries.
These industries employ hundreds of thousands of individuals directly and indirectly. Mr. Mahajan emphasized that this industry is often likened to the Australia of the Indian subcontinent due to its remarkable development spanning decades, evolving from a modest beginning to its current robust stature.
This industry caters to different sets of people’s needs and highly contributes to the economy of the state. He also added collaborating with premier institutes like NIT Srinagar on solving the Industrial Design problem will help the community grow better and benefit and also bridge the gap between Industry and Institute.
Dr Dinesh Kumar Rajendran delivered the awareness session to the industrialists about the Design Scheme of MSME. He explained about the two components of the scheme having opportunity to get funding upto 40 lakhs for the growth and betterment off the industries in collaboration with the educational Institute.
Dr Rajendran added this scheme from the ministry of MSME will add an additional feather to the crown of the developed Industrial Estates of Jammu.
He also pointed out what are the potent design interventions that can be made based on the research survey conducted across the industries of Jammu.
He elaborated the industrialist about the Design Thinking problem solving technique and how to tackle the Industrial problem with Design approach.
In the Katra Industrial cluster Dr. Eswarmoorthy Muthusamy from SMVDU Katra empathises on potential growth of energy in development of Industry and making them self-sustained.
He also discussed the various design problem relevance in renewable energy sectors such as solar and wind making things more energy efficient.
On the occasion, Mr Tarun, Vice President of Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate, introduced the industrialists about the various aspects of design. He highlighted industrialists about better design that can improve the productivity and profit of the company.
Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, the Nodal Officer of the program, delivered the formal vote of thanks, concluding the session with an optimistic note. He expressed appreciation for the engaging session with the Jammu industrial estates and expressed hope for enhanced collaboration in the future for mutual benefit.
He also mentioned that similar awareness rallies are planned in the upcoming weeks to benefit the industrial clusters of Kashmir.

KR Desk