Covid-19 impact: MSMEs require support to survive, says industry expert

Over 22% of the over 75 Million MSME's units in India will be shut if the lockdown in cities extends beyond 4 weeks and a staggering 43% will shut shop if the panic extends beyond 8 weeks

Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSME) players in the country have called for urgent measures by the government, such as extension of deadline for filing GST, among others, to help the industry survive.

K E Raghunathan, past president of All-India Manufacturers Organisation and an MSME owner for the past 35 years, said that the sector had expected some steps to be announced in the Prime Minister's address last week. Pointing out that the corporate sector had received various tax benefits in recent times, he said the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) had even extended the deadline for them to hold board