Mumbai MSMEs clamour for govt support

A local apparel manufacturer notes a conspicuous absence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's usual salutations "Modiji typically addresses his speeches to 'mere pyare desh vasiyo' and 'yuva bharat' ('my dear citizens' and 'young India') but it's seldom that you hear 'mere pyare vyapario' ('my dear traders').

- SHIVANI SHINDE

" This omission, he suggests, is indicative of a broader need for the government to turn its attention to the city's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

With the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections entering the fifth phase on May 20, the spotlight is on Mumbai, and within it the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan region. This political hotbed, home to a significant portion of Mumbai's MSMEs, is witnessing an intense contest between so-called loyalists and rebels. In Thane, Rajan Vichare of the Shiv Sena (UBT) is taking on Naresh Mhaske of the Shiv Sena, while in Kalyan, Shrikant Shinde, son of CM Eknath Shinde, is battling against Vaishali Darekar of Shiv Sena (UBT). Bhiwandi will see an electoral fight between the BJP's Kapil Patil, Union Panchayat Raj Minister, and Suresh Mahatre of the NCP (Sharad Pawar).

Maharashtra boasts nearly 4 million micro-enterprises, over 88,000 small enterprises, and around 10,000 medium enterprises. Around 41 per cent of these, according to media reports, are concentrated within Mumbai and Pune.

MSME exports from India shot up to $125.5 billion in 2023, a 42 per cent increase from $88.3 billion in 2021. Despite their contribution to the economy, with MSME exports from Maharashtra alone standing at $24.2 billion, many of these enterprises are on the verge of closure, relocation, or business model overhaul.