Chapter IV Chapter IV

MEASURES FOR PROMOTION, DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OFCOMPETITIVENESS OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Measures for promotion and development.—The Central Government may, from time to time, for the purposes of facilitating the promotion and development and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises, particularly of the micro and small enterprises, by way of development of skill in the employees, management and entrepreneurs, provisioning for technological upgradation,marketing assistance or infrastructure facilities and cluster development of such enterprises with a view to strengthening backward and forward linkages, specify, by notification, such programmes, guidelines or instructions, as it may deem fit.

Credit facilities.—The policies and practices in respect of credit to the micro, small and medium enterprises shall be progressive and such as may be specified in the guidelines or instructions issued by the Reserve Bank, from time to time, to ensure timely and smooth flow of credit tosuch enterprises, minimise the incidence of sickness among and enhance the competitiveness of such enterprises.

Procurement preference policy.—For facilitating promotion and development of micro and small enterprises, the Central Government or the State Government may, by order notify from time to time, preference policies in respect of procurement of goods and services, produced and provided by micro and small enterprises, by its Ministries or departments, as the case may be, or its aided institutions and public sector enterprises.

Funds.—There shall be constituted, by notification, one or more Funds to be called by such name as may be specified in the notification and there shall be credited thereto any grants made by the Central Government under section 13.

Grants by Central Government.—The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, credit to the Fund or Funds by way of grants for the purposes of this Act, such sums of money as that Government may consider necessary to provide.

Administration and utilisation of Fund or Funds.—(1) The Central Government shall have the power to administer the Fund or Funds in such manner as may be prescribed.

1. (2) The Fund or Funds shall be utilised exclusively for the measures specified in sub-section (1) of section 9.
2. (3) The Central Government shall be responsible for the coordination and ensuring timely utilisation and release of sums in accordance with such criteria as may be prescribed.