Latest news with #WorldBank-aided


Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala sees 100% FDI growth: Minister
Thiruvananthapuram: Industry minister P Rajeeve said the state's new industrial policy has significantly transformed Kerala's entrepreneurial landscape and boosted job opportunities, enabling more youth to find employment within the state. Inaugurating the International MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) Day celebrations, organized by the department of industries & commerce and the World Bank-aided Kera project, Rajeeve noted that Kerala is witnessing a rise in reverse migration amid global geopolitical tensions. He affirmed the govt's commitment to building an industry-friendly ecosystem that supports both employment and economic growth. The event's focal theme, ARYSE-Kerala (Awareness and Response for Young and Student Entrepreneurs), reflects the state's efforts to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. "We are focusing on knowledge-based industries by leveraging Kerala's highly skilled workforce," Rajeeve said. Initiatives such as K-Store and K-Shoppe have enhanced sales for homegrown MSMEs and nano units. Under the Made in Kerala brand, products like coconut oil—branded as Nanma—have gained customer traction, with 10 more products to follow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Honda SP160: Now with More Power and Style Honda Learn More Undo Other key interventions include subsidies and margin money for nano units, campus industrial parks for youth entrepreneurship, private industrial estate schemes, and extended support for marketing, taxation, and MSME sustainability. Rajeeve said the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS), held earlier in Kochi, attracted Rs 1.96 lakh crore in investments. Kerala also recorded 100% growth in foreign direct investment (FDI), making it the top achiever in ease of doing business, as per a recent Union govt report. He said coordinated efforts by the govt and industries department have significantly reduced the failure rate of new MSMEs. Based on studies by IIM Indore and the Centre for Management Development, the govt will soon launch Mission 10000, aiming to scale up 10,000 nano enterprises to generate a combined turnover of Rs 1 lakh crore. An MoU between the directorate of industries and commerce and the Kera project was signed at the event.


United News of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Training for business development service providers to support MSMEs
Thiruvananthapuram, June 25 (UNI) Kerala Minister for Law, Industries and Coir P. Rajeeve inaugurated the state-level training programme for Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) as part of the Reinforcing and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) project at Institute of Management in Government (IMG) here today. The training for the BDSPs was conducted by the Kerala Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (KIED). APM Mohammed Hanish IAS, Principal Secretary (Industries); Vishnuraj P., IAS, Director of Industries and Commerce; Rajeev G, Additional Director of Industries and Commerce; Sharath V.S, General Manager (i/c), DIC Thiruvananthapuram; and Saji S, CEO, Kerala Institute for Entrepreneurship Development (KIED) attended the inaugural ceremony. The Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Kerala has recruited 500 BDSPs on contract basis, as part of RAMP scheme of the Govt. of India. They will be trained to provide a range of services to support and foster entrepreneurial activities at the local body level across the state. BDSPs are responsible for effectively communicating the business- friendly policies formulated by the Central and State government at the ground level. By assigning BDSPs in Panchayats, Municipal Corporations and City Corporations, the government is ensuring that all help and support are made available to the prospective entrepreneurs. World Bank-aided RAMP, aims at overall development and sustenance of MSME's in the country. The scheme was launched at the national level on June 30, 2022 and is being implemented over a period of five years under the aegis of the Union Ministry of MSME (MoMSME). Some of the major objectives of RAMP scheme are: to facilitate an easy market entry for MSMEs and to expand and create market for their products; to ensure loan availability for MSMEs, to ensure the Central-State Governments and their affiliated institutions are closely involved in the implementation of the scheme and encourage innovative ideas in MSMEs; to increase communication among MSMEs; to promote the current trends and processes followed by MSMEs; to encourage green practices in startups etc. The Ramp Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) submitted by State's Industries Department received the Centre's approval in January 2024 and the MSME Ministry sanctioned a grant of Rs. 107.71 crore for the implementation of projects under the scheme. The state government also allotted Rs. 37.07 Crores for the scheme. The comprehensive RAMP project covers components like DPR assistance for Mission 1,000 units, handholding for MSMEs through business executives, import substitution studies and strategic plan preparation, MSME-technology clinics and training programs. The planning and implementation of the project began in January this year under the leadership of the State Directorate of Industries and Commerce. UNI DS RN


Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar government decides to set up halls for poor women's wedding, hike pension
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said his government has decided to construct marriage halls in all panchayat areas in the state to facilitate the wedding of poor women. The Cabinet also decided to increase social security pensions to beneficiaries from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 per month, and reduce prices of meals at canteens, run by self-help groups, from Rs 40 to Rs 20. The state Cabinet took the decisions at a meeting, chaired by Kumar, ahead of the assembly polls due later this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo "I am delighted to inform you that our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the marriage ceremonies of daughters from poor families (of marriageable age ) in the rural areas of the state," the CM said in a post on X. The programme was named 'Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Mandap Scheme'. Live Events "These marriage halls will be operated by JEEViKA Didis. The construction of marriage halls at the panchayat level will greatly benefit economically weaker families, said the CM. JEEViKA Didis are women associated with self-help groups under the World Bank-aided Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project. Aimed at social and economic empowerment of the rural poor, the project is also known as JEEViKA. "The marriage hall will be constructed by gram panchayats at Rs 50 lakh each in 8,053 gram panchayats of the state. The marriage halls will be constructed in a phased manner within a period of five years beginning the current financial year," Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena told reporters. A total cost of Rs 4026 crore would be spent on the construction of marriage halls, he added. The Cabinet also reduced the prices of meals provided at Didi Ki Rasoi' canteens, supported by Jeevika, at all government medical colleges and hospitals as well as various government institutions across the state from Rs 40 to Rs 20 per plate, Kumar said. The state government will compensate Rs 20 per plate, he wrote. The government is committed to providing essential high-quality facilities in all health institutions across the state. We have also decided to implement this arrangement in all district collectorates, sub-divisional offices, block, and circle offices in the state. Instructions have been issued to officials to ensure that people coming from remote rural areas can access pure food at affordable rates, Kumar said in his post on X. The Cabinet decided to set up a committee under the chairmanship of the development commissioner to find ways for disbursing Rs 2 lakh to poor women entrepreneurs. According to the caste survey, 94 lakh out of 2.76 crore families were identified as poor families. The Cabinet also gave its nod to enhance the corpus of bank loan to be given to Jeevika from the current Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh at an interest rate of 7 per cent, the chief secretary said adding that the state government would reimburse the interest rate beyond 7 per cent. The Cabinet decided to increase the social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 per month to be given to 1.11 crore beneficiaries of various schemes, Meena said and added that the decision would incur an additional financial burden of Rs 9,202 crore on the state exchequer. The Cabinet also decided that gram panchayat can now take up works of up to Rs 10 lakh under MGNREGA. Earlier, the limit was Rs 5 lakh for giving administrative approval for work under MGNREGA, the chief secretary said. "It also approved the proposal to give Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia to the next of kin of members of three-tier panchayat raj system and gram kutchery. The ex-gratia will be given in case of normal deaths of panchayat representatives during their tenure," said the chief secretary.


Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women
Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said his government has decided to construct marriage halls in all panchayat areas in the state to facilitate the wedding of poor women. Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women The state Cabibent took the decision at a meeting, chaired by Kumar, ahead of the assembly polls due later this year. 'I am delighted to inform you that our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the marriage ceremonies of daughters from poor families in the rural areas of the state," the CM said in a post on X. The programme was named 'Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Mandap Scheme'. "These marriage halls will be operated by JEEViKA Didis. The construction of marriage halls at the panchayat level will greatly benefit economically weaker families,' said the CM. JEEViKA Didis are women associated with self-help groups under the World Bank-aided Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project. Aimed at social and economic empowerment of the rural poor, the project is also known as JEEViKA. The Cabinet also reduced the prices of meals provided at 'Didi Ki Rasoi' canteens, supported by Jeevika, at all government medical colleges and hospitals as well as various government institutions across the state from ₹ 40 to ₹ 20 per plate, Kumar said. The state government will compensate ₹ 20 per plate, he wrote. 'The government is committed to providing essential high-quality facilities in all health institutions across the state. We have also decided to implement this arrangement in all district collectorates, sub-divisional offices, block, and circle offices in the state. Instructions have been issued to officials to ensure that people coming from remote rural areas can access pure food at affordable rates,' Kumar said. Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal of the Social Welfare Department to increase pension of senior citizens, widows and people with disability by ₹ 700 per month. The beneficiaries will get enhanced pensions of ₹ 1,100 from July. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TN project wins national award
Chennai: The World Bank-aided Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization (TNIAM) project was awarded the Union govt's " Best Integrated Water Resources Management 2024 " by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This recognition was for its success in enhancing agricultural, livestock, and fisheries production through an integrated approach across 34 districts, benefiting 13.42lakh acres and increasing the income of more than 15 lakh farmers. "The award recognises the project's effectiveness in addressing challenges related to water resources and boosting agro-based production," said an official release. On Friday, chief minister M K Stalin extended wishes to officials of TNIAM, as well as water resources, agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries departments. The scheme facilitated significant improvement in water resource management, including the rehabilitation of 2,626 tanks, construction of 353 check dams, improvement of 5,026 km of irrigation channels, and construction of 78 artificial recharge wells, said an official statement. Furthermore, the project supported the construction of 1,854 agricultural ponds with capacity to store 20.39 lakh cubic metres of water.