SME institute seeks deemed university status

The National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Nimsme) is seeking deemed university status to offer postgraduate diploma programmes in SME development, quality control, export and supply chain management. It is also looking at expanding its international consultancy service business apart from setting up IT parks and an IPR cell.

Nimsme director general Chukka Kondaiah said many Asian countries had sought institute’s assistance in making their small and medium enterprises more vibrant. The institute sees good opportunity in Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Bhutan, where the SME sector is lagging, for offering its consultancy services.

On the IT parks, he said the proposal was in the conceptual stage. “We are in the process of doing the spadework and are optimistic that these will generate a lot of employment.”

Among others, it plans to set up an IPR cell to coordinate patent and design registrations, geographical index, and copyrights. The institute recently submitted its report to the government after studying brass music instruments, rice milling, leather, readymades, wood craft, utensils making and powerlooms sectors in Uttar Pradesh, and fish pickles, rubber, cement pipes and essential oils sectors in Tamil Nadu. It is now analysing the plastic and leather segments in Andhra Pradesh.

Nimsme is also bidding for implementing the cluster development programmes for dhari handlooms in Warangal and a footwear cluster in Goa. “Cluster development approach will ensure that the entire area is well supported and developed uniformly,” Kondaiah said.

The institute conducted over 200 programmes last year and is targeting 240 programmes by March to train about 15,000 youth. It has so far counselled about 14,000 people, who took voluntary retirement, on various opportunities.