Introduction of TEAM Scheme
On the occasion of MSME Day 2024, union MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi introduced the Trade Enablement & Marketing (TEAM) scheme for which the government has a provision of Rs 277. 35 crore for 2024-27. This programme aims to improve e-commerce assistance for MSEs through the government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Addressing E-commerce Challenges
MSEs experience challenges in using e-commerce, including inabilities in digital literacy, insufficient capital to purchase the necessary tools, and confined self-efficiency in using digital media. The aforementioned barriers are endured by MSEs who are Udyam-registered to access catalogue services, onboard on ONDC and account management through the TEAM scheme.
Expected Impact
The Ministry of Micro, small and medium enterprises expects 500 thousand MSEs to avail the scheme within 3 years and out of these, half will be owned by women. For awareness and effective implementation, at least 150 e-commerce awareness and entrepreneurs’ training workshops will be held in tier 2 and 3 cities and MSME clusters.
Implementation and Support
This plan is under the RAMP programme supported by the World Bank and will be implemented by the NSIC. Minister Manjhi highlighted six foundational pillars for MSME initiatives: benefits like formalization and credit access, market and electronic commerce, productivity through the technique, skill development, and digitalization, existing trade support, and women and artisans.
Yashasvini: A campaign of women entrepreneurs
Also, the Yashasvini campaign was introduced in a bid to assist one lakh women entrepreneurs in tier II cities with skill development. When announcing this campaign, Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner of the MSME Ministry, also said that this campaign is designed to empower the women MSMEs and intends to cover all kinds of support and handholding within one year.
