West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the top three states, respectively, in the growth and generation of jobs in the small and medium enterprises sector. The reference period is between April 2011 and February 15, 2012, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

West Bengal is the front-runner state by generating over 43,000 job opportunities. It has assisted 5,290 units utilising about Rs 52.49 crore of the margin money subsidy of the Centre.

According to the chamber’s study, “Over 3.25 lakh jobs were generated in the SME sector by providing assistance to a total of 35,607 units across India, utilising margin money subsidy worth about Rs 700 crore during the 11 months period”.

Andhra Pradesh is the second leading state to facilitate growth. Utilising the margin subsidy money worth Rs 48.9 crore, the State assisted about 1,459 units.

Assisting about 3,205 units, Uttar Pradesh ranked third with 30,880 jobs generated. It utilised over Rs 107 crore of the margin money subsidy. Tamil Nadu followed next by creating about 27,138 jobs and assisted about 1,827 units utilising margin money subsidy of over Rs 44.6 crore.

The SME sector accounts for about 45 per cent of India’s manufacturing output and 40 per cent of the total exports of the country. Besides, the sector is estimated to employ about 59 million people in over 26 million units which produce over 6,000 products ranging from traditional to high-tech items.

Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were the other states, which showed enterprise in the sector.

Somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

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