Retirees to provide consultancy to MSMEs

A new and innovative consultancy service is on the cards for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Uttarakhand.

The Industries Association of Uttarakhand (IAU), an apex body of MSMEs in the hill state, has taken up the task of creating a pool of retired citizens with thorough knowledge of industry, in order to enable the provision of consultancy services free of cost.

The IAU envisions that these persons will serve as business development service (BDS) providers and render consultancy services to MSMEs on subjects like taxes, legal matters, project reports, banking, finance, pollution control, marketing and exports.

“We just have to find a suitable person for a particular cause,” said Pankaj Gupta, president of the IAU. The IAU has also roped in the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) as international partner.

A special website and call centres will also be set up in the state where matters can be heard. “Through this endeavour, we will invite retirees to register themselves and indicate their area of expertise. These experts can be contacted in times of crises or any other need,” said Gupta. Another task of the BDS providers will be to create new entrepreneurial skills in the state.