Assocham suggests cell for sick MSME units in Bengal

Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) Industry body Assocham Tuesday suggested that the West Bengal government set up a special cell for reviving sick micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), which submitted a strategy paper on "Reviving Sick Units in West Bengal" to state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, said over Rs.725 crore was blocked in the sick units and more than one lakh people had lost their livelihood.

It said 96 percent of the state's sick MSME units were not in a condition for revival.

"These units are difficult to revive either due to change in ownership or there are legal complications," Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat told reporters here.

"But, in order to revive the remaining four percent, the state government should set up a special cell to facilitate these units back into operation," he said, adding that the cell would ensure that there was no delinquency by any government department in providing relief and concessions.

The industry body said that till March 31, 2011, there were over 7,905 micro and small sick industries and 460 medium-sized sick industries in West Bengal.