The Government will push for higher use of domestic set top boxes rather than imported ones in the third phase of digitisation. In the first and second phases, most set top boxes used were imported.

“To encourage domestic manufacturers, we will be using domestic set top boxes,” said Kalraj Mishra, Minister for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME), during an interaction with MSME representatives here. Mishra said MSME growth was a key priority for the government to create more employment. “MSME is the only platform through which skills, especially technical, can be imparted to the youth, irrespective of the level of education,” he said. He also said the concept of incubation centres, such as those run by the National Small Industries Corporation, needed to be extended to other parts of the country.

Mishra said the Government would “formalise its relationships with prominent MSME associations” to give them a bigger role in policy-making.

Various MSME associations, which presented their demands to the Minister, sought a separate labour law for the sector, easier and cheaper land acquisition, and easier access to credit.

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