Mumbai, July 6 -- On 29 June 2026 the Union Minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), Jitan Ram Manjhi, reviewed the implementation of central schemes in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh and assured stakeholders that their grievances would be addressed. The review meeting took place at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Hall in Leh and was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of MSME, the Ladakh administration, banking institutions, industry associations and local entrepreneurs. Officials said the session focused on assessing delivery of benefits and identifying administrative bottlenecks.
Director of Industries and Commerce, Ladakh, M A Bhatt, provided a detailed brief on the status of scheme implementation across the UT. Joint Secretary Vinamra Mishra noted that Manjhi was the first union MSME minister to visit Ladakh and highlighted the sector's role in employment generation and economic growth. Participants included bank representatives and industry associations that raised issues around access to credit, subsidy disbursal and market linkages.
Officials said stakeholders drew attention to procedural delays and the need for greater outreach to micro and small entrepreneurs in remote areas. The minister observed that the MSME sector, after agriculture, has emerged as one of the country's largest contributors to GDP growth and employment generation and that its relatively low carbon footprint makes it suitable for sustainable development in ecologically sensitive regions such as Ladakh. He also acknowledged the importance of integrating local enterprises with broader supply chains.
Manjhi commended the role of the UDYAM portal in simplifying enterprise registration and urged enhanced awareness drives so that more people, particularly those from underprivileged sections, could enrol and access benefits. He assured participants that the concerns raised would be taken up with relevant departments and pledged continued support to strengthen the MSME ecosystem in Ladakh. Officials said follow-up measures and clearer coordination with banks would be pursued to resolve outstanding issues.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.