An awareness programme on the State and the Central Government Schemes for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP)

Namchi, September 16 (IPR): An awareness programme on the State and the Central Government Schemes for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative for 15 Rangang Yangang Constituency was organised at PM Shri Senior Secondary School Lingmoo under Namchi District, today.
The awareness programme was organised by the District Industries Centre (DIC) Namchi under the Commerce and Industries Department in collaboration with the Sikkim Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED) Cell.
The programme was aimed to create a supportive ecosystem for unemployed youths, aspiring entrepreneurs, and existing entrepreneurs by facilitating access to govt. resources, funding opportunities, online marketing platforms and expert guidance to help them realise their business and career aspirations.
Deputy Speaker SLA cum Area MLA Mrs Raj Kumari Thapa attended the event as the Chief Guest.
Present amongst other during the programme were Food Processing Industries Advisor Mr C L Gurung, OSD Commerce and Industries Mr Deepan Subba, OSD Rangang Yangang Constituency Ms Denkila Bhutia, OSD Agriculture Department Mr S B Rai, SDM Yangang Mr K L Dahal, General Manager DIC Namchi Mr Dinesh Pradhan, alongwith Zilla Panchayats, Panchayat members, members of Namchi and Gangtok SEED Cell, PM Shri Sr Sec School Lingmoo, Principal Mr Tilak Singh Rai teaching faculties, students, local entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups and youth.
Addressing the gathering, the Area MLA Mrs Raj Kumari Thapa commended the Department and the SEED Cell for their dedicated efforts in organising such awareness programmes on various subsidised schemes of the State and Central Governments at the grassroots level. She remarked that such initiatives play a vital role in boosting entrepreneurship among aspiring individuals, encouraging them to establish businesses under subsidised schemes, while also generating employment opportunities for the local population.
In addition, she urged the gathering to recognise the advantages of owning businesses, which, unlike government jobs, can be passed down through generations. She further highlighted State Government schemes such as the Skilled Youth Start-Up Scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to unemployed educated youth for setting up enterprises, and encouraged beneficiaries to make the most of these opportunities.
She also informed the participants about the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, which extends holistic support to local artisans by offering skill training, financial assistance, and marketing support. In this regard, she requested the Commerce and Industries Department to provide specialised training and marketing skills to interested individuals, enabling them to access resources that would enhance their productivity and support the growth of their businesses.
Lastly, the Area MLA also spoke about the developmental initiatives undertaken in the constituency and expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, for his continuous support and guidance towards the welfare and progress of the people.
In his address, OSD Mr Deepan Subba said the SEED Cell acts as a bridge between the government and entrepreneurs, helping them access loans, subsidies, and schemes, while also assisting with project reports and financial linkages. He added that it plays a key role in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with government resources and opportunities.
He further mentioned that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, key schemes such as Mukhyamantri Yuva Udhyamsheelta Vikas Yojna, One Family One Entrepreneur, and Skilled Youth Start-Up are being implemented to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment, and innovation, thereby fostering self-reliance and sustainable growth in the state.
Citing the Chief Minister’s vision of Sunaulo Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim, OSD stated that the initiatives are designed to create an environment where every household develops an entrepreneur, thereby contributing to the state’s economic advancement. He further underlined the need for a constructive shift in mindset to nurture entrepreneurial values among citizens.
In conclusion, Mr Deepan Subba announced the upcoming initiative Entrepreneurs Club, a school-based programme designed to nurture entrepreneurial thinking among students from an early age. The initiative will particularly target students from Class 8 to 12, focusing on developing entrepreneurship skills. He further informed that the club will be supervised by the SEED Cell in collaboration with the School Management Committee (SMC), with the aim of motivating young minds to explore opportunities in the business sector, understand its vast potential, and build the confidence to transform ideas into viable enterprises.
General Manager DIC Namchi underscored the department’s role in linking people with various State and Central schemes, and pointed out the benefits, potential, and other key aspects of each subsidised programme. He informed that inspectors have been assigned to every constituency to assist individuals in understanding and accessing these benefits, and encouraged participants to make full use of the schemes to enhance their livelihoods and support community development.
During the programme, departmental officials and consultants delivered presentations on Central Government schemes, outlining incentives, eligibility, documentation, sectors, and coverage. Inspector DIC Namchi Mr Ajay Tamang, spoke on the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). He was followed by Inspector Mr Abhishek Tamang, DIC-Namchi, who presented on the UNNATI scheme.
Moreover, Senior Consultant RAMP Mr Prem Chettri, outlined the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme and the RAMP initiative, including capacity-building training. He also provided guidance on Udyam Registration, FSSAI licensing for online food products, Digital Marketing, ONDC, and GeM, and explained the process of listing products on e-commerce platforms.
The programme also included an interactive session, during which the participants had their queries addressed by the expeerts.
The welcome address was presented by Zilla Panchayat Kolthang Magzing Mr KD Kafley whereas the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Namchi District Executive Member SEED Cell Vishal Dahal.