PMFME scheme crosses 2 lakh credit-linked micro food processing beneficiaries

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The government on Saturday said the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has surpassed sanctioning of loans to more than two lakh micro food processing enterprises.

While crossing 2 lakh loan sanctions, the scheme has leveraged project investments of over Rs 20,300 crore, informed Chirag Paswan, Minister for Food Processing Industries.

Speaking at an event here to celebrate the historic milestone, the minister said nearly 90 per cent of beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs and 44 per cent are women entrepreneurs, while over 75,000 PMFME-supported enterprises have entered the formal economy through registrations such as Udyam Aadhaar, Udyam Assist, FSSAI and GST.

The scheme has generated nearly 11 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, he informed.

Paswan said the achievement of two lakh beneficiaries “demonstrates that this vision is translating into measurable outcomes across the country,” describing the participation of women entrepreneurs, at nearly 44 per cent of all beneficiaries as “the true spirit of women-led development, a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat.”

The minister also highlighted the Scheme’s Seed Capital support, under which more than 4.18 lakh Self Help Group members have been supported and the Ministry’s network of 80 Common Incubation Centres approved across 27 States/UTs, of which 32 have been commissioned.

More than 1.76 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the Scheme, of whom 77 percent are women.

Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, while announcing the launch of a nationwide multimedia awareness campaign, conveyed the importance of PMFME scheme that provides the end-to-end support to the micro-food processing entrepreneurs starting from the financial assistance, training, handholding, branding and marketing to the market linkage.

Deval noted that “PMFME is not merely supporting enterprises; it is transforming livelihoods, strengthening local value chains and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country.”

Officials also highlighted the Scheme’s One District One Product (ODOP) approach and its support for 40 common brands covering nearly 200 products, through which PMFME is building local value chains around products such as Makhana, millets, spices and GI-tagged products across the country.

–IANS

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Three arms of Constitution fulfilled their responsibilities as desired by B.R. Ambedkar: CJI B.R. Gavai

Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai said on Tuesday that the three arms of Indian Constitution — the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary — have been able to fulfil their responsibilities at the completion of 75 years of the Constitution as desired by B.R. Ambedkar.

When the country is heading for the centenary of the Constitution, the three arms have also been successful ensuring social, economic justice and equality as well as social and economic and social and political democracy.

CJI Gavai was speaking on Indian Constitution at the Central Hall of the Maharashtra Legislature after he was felicitated for becoming the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

“I feel lucky to be the Chief Justice of India when the Indian Constitution has completed 75 years in April this year and we will be heading for its centenary. I will be able to continue my share in this journey. During my career I have already tried to strike a balance between the Directive principles and fundamental rights,” he said.

He claimed that he treats felicitation on Tuesday by the Maharashtra Legislature, where his father late late R.S. Gavai spent three decades assuming various posts, as blessings of the 12.87 crore people of the state.

He said that the Constitution is a weapon for bloodless revolution in the country and it has been witnessed during the several judgments given by the Supreme Court while upholding or dismissing the various enactments made by the states.

He added that it was done to ensure not social and political democracy but also social and economic democracy.

“Babasaheb Ambedkar was criticised for our Constitution being too centralised and it provides too much of centralism and federalism. Babasaheb had replied to that criticism by saying the Constitution is not centric nor federal. We are giving the country a Constitution suitable for all challenges, and I can assure you that it will keep the country united in times of war and peace,” the CJI said.

He also added that B.R. Ambedkar opposed the Federal and state Constitution and made a strong pitch for one Constitution which has helped the country remain together and united.

Referring to B.R. Ambedkar’s argument that the legal institution cannot be static but should be organic and evolving to suit the needs of society, the CJI said that it has become a reality during the last 75 years of the Constitution.

“Due to the Constitution in India two women became the President, members of the Scheduled Caste assumed the post of the President and the Vice-President of India. In several states, women are assuming the posts of the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police,” he noted.

–IANS

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Bangladeshis residing illegally in Karnataka will be deported: G Parameshwara

Bengaluru, Jan 8 (IANS) Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in the state will be identified, apprehended and deported to their country.

He added that the Bangladeshi embassy would also be informed in such cases.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Parameshwara said, “If any Bangladeshi national is residing in the state illegally, we will identify them, apprehend them and deport them. Their embassy will be informed. We have done this in many cases earlier.”

When asked about the presence of Bangladeshi nationals in the state, Parameshwara said the media should be cautious while framing such questions.

He noted that if it is claimed that Bangladeshi nationals are residing in the state, proof must be provided. He suggested that it would be more appropriate for the media to state that they have received information in this regard.

Responding to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s charge that the state Home Minister was “incapable and acting as a rubber stamp”, Parameshwara said, “I am a responsible Home Minister, and I will ensure that law and order is maintained in Karnataka. Whatever happens, we will take necessary action within the framework of the law. If Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has called me a rubber stamp, I thank him. I do not want to comment further on that. However, as a responsible person, he should be mindful before making such statements.”

“I have worked with Kumaraswamy when he was the Chief Minister, and I was the Deputy Chief Minister. He knows my capabilities and personality. I do not know why he has made such statements,” he said.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday criticised Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar for holding a meeting of police officers in Ballari over the violence.

Questioning the authority of the Deputy Chief Minister, Union Minister Kumaraswamy asked who had given him the power to convene such a meeting and whether the state has only a rubber-stamp Home Minister.

“Is there no Home Minister in the state? Is the Home Minister merely a rubber-stamp minister? People should know the truth about the incident,” he said.

“Party workers and Congress leaders themselves have lodged complaints before the fact-finding committee against the very MLAs who are accused of causing the incident. Then what will be the fate of your investigation?” he asked.

–IANS

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Congress opposes AAP govt’s proposal to acquire 23,000 acres in Ludhiana

Chandigarh, May 21 (IANS) The Congress in Punjab on Wednesday opposed the proposal of the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state to acquire over 23,000 acres around Ludhiana city for non-agriculture purposes.

The party said it would not only snatch away the livelihood of tens of thousands of farmers, but would also prove to be economically and environmentally devastating and disastrous for the area.

“You are going to create a concrete jungle out of green agricultural land,” state party president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring warned in a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while remarking, “AAP appears to have assumed the role of colonisers.”

“I am feeling concerned and worried about such a huge parcel of prime agricultural land getting acquired for non-agricultural purposes,” he said, adding, “so should be you, worried and concerned as it will not only snatch away the livelihood of of farmers, but will be ecologically and environmentally devastatingly disastrous.”

He said there was genuine anger and outrage among the affected people.

“If executed, this decision will snatch away the livelihood of tens of thousands of farmers in the affected villages,” he added while warning that “from being prosperous farmers, they risk turning into landless labourers in big cities.”

Warring observed that Punjab, being an agricultural state, cannot afford to convert such a huge parcel of land into a “concrete jungle”, particularly when there is no need or requirement for the same.

He pointed out that hundreds of colonies around Ludhiana are crying for attention. “Instead of forcibly grabbing the land of farmers in the name of development, why not regularise those colonies and provide facilities to the residents after claiming due developmental charges?” he asked.

“Or, is it because of some rejected ‘experts’ from Delhi who have suggested bringing in some populist schemes ahead of 2027 elections and for which you need money,” he said, adding, “it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

–IANS

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