Small businesses file applications worth over Rs 35,000 cr in payables

Over 137,000 complaints made, govt portal shows state govt dues are among the highest

A government portal on which small businesses can file applications over payments due to them, has recorded over 137,000 complaints to recover more than Rs 35,000 crore.

They have filed applications against state governments, central departments and ministries in addition to other small businesses and proprietorships; shows data from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as of March-end on the MSME Samadhaan Portal.

State governments owe the maximum amount. There are 9,026 applications with Rs 5,142 crore as payable against state governments. This is followed by central public sector undertakings (PSUs) which have 5,544 applications worth Rs 4,624 crore pending. Proprietorships are third in terms of value, with Rs 2,715 crore pending. The number of applications filed are highest against proprietorships, over 30,000 (chart 1).

The Micro and Small Enterprise Facilitation Council (MSEFC) for settlement of disputes shows that central PSUs have settled the highest amounts so far (Rs 928.7 crore). State governments are second with Rs 509.8 crore. The third is proprietorships with Rs 311.7 crore (chart 2).


 

Over 10,655 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) shut down in 2022-23; according to data shared in Parliament in February. This was the highest in four years. The MSME ministry’s annual report shows that there were 63.4 million unincorporated non-agriculture MSMEs in the country as of last count in 2015-16. This included 19.7 million manufacturing units, 23.0 million engaged in trade and 20.7 million in other services.