Focus on producing hygienic, environment-friendly products to sustain in the field, Zilla Panchayat CEO tells MSMEs

Udupi Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal on Wednesday urged micro, small, and medium industries (MSMEs) to focus on producing quality products that are hygienic and environment-friendly.

He was speaking after inaugurating an awareness programme on ZED (Zero Defect Zero Effect) and Lean initiatives of the Union government. It was organised jointly by the Department of Industries and Commerce, MSME Directorate, Karnataka Council for Technological Upgradation (KCTU), and District Industries Centre at Udupi.

Mr. Bayal said that besides giving importance to revenue generation and earning profits, MSMEs should also focus on environment-friendly methods of production to manufacture products hygienically. Such products, the CEO said, would naturally command higher demand in the market, thereby ensuring the industries sustain for a long time and contribute to the nation’s growth.

He noted that the country, before the arrival of Europeans for trade and commerce, had many small domestic industries. Their products, including handicrafts and food products, were in great demand across the globe. The industrialisation introduced by Europeans not only destroyed the small industries, but also forced those depending on them towards agriculture and other sundry works. On account of this, Mahatma Gandhi had stressed domestic production and use of domestic products.

Siddaraju from KCTU said the Union and State governments, along with the World Bank, supported MSMEs with the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Scheme (RAMP) when the sector was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Every product needs quality assurance certification; ZED certification helps products to be recognised as ‘zero defect, zero effect’. The certification comprises bronze, silver, and gold categories. The awareness programme will educate entrepreneurs on how to get the certification, he said.

Joint director of industries Nagaraj V. Nayak, MSME Directorate joint director Sundar Sherigar, District Small Industries Association president Vasanth Kini, Lead bank manager Harish, and others were present.

On the occasion, eligible entrepreneurs received ZED certificates.