MSME Health Clinic to Cover 5.5 Lakh Units Across Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration will digitally assess micro, small and medium enterprises across the Union Territory to detect early signs of financial or operational stress and enable timely intervention, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said on Monday.

Chairing a review meeting on the performance of the MSME Health Clinic, an initiative of the Industries and Commerce Department in collaboration with IIM Jammu under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme, the Chief Secretary described the creation of a robust and responsive advisory mechanism as one of the most significant developmental interventions for the sector.

He directed that all MSMEs across the Union Territory be reached through a comprehensive digital screening tool to assess their operational and financial health. The analytical framework is to be developed in coordination with BISAG-N.

Under the proposed structure, enterprises will first undergo preliminary digital screening, followed by advanced assessments for identified units. Stressed or sick units will initially receive tele-consultation, followed by expert interaction and, where necessary, customised on-ground interventions through field visits.

Dulloo asked the Industries and Commerce Department to ensure seamless sharing of enterprise data with experts from IIM Jammu to facilitate evidence-based diagnosis and recommend tailored financial and non-financial interventions. He also called for the creation of dedicated cells within the department and IIM Jammu to streamline the specialised support mechanism.

Describing MSMEs as the backbone of the Union Territory’s industrial ecosystem, the Chief Secretary said strong intent, coordinated action and sustained commitment were essential to ensure the sector’s growth and resilience. He assured that funds would not be a constraint and stressed the need for adequate human resources to scale up the initiative.

Director IIM Jammu B S Sahay termed the programme a mission-driven effort aimed at achieving measurable impact within a defined timeframe. He suggested launching a focused outreach campaign and said that nearly 5.5 lakh enterprises across Jammu and Kashmir could be reached with a well-designed strategy. He also proposed involving around 800 students of IIM Jammu through structured project work.

Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh informed the meeting that around 2,050 units have been registered on the MSME Health Clinic portal after integrating data from GST, Udyam registrations, electricity consumption and other utility metrics. He said approximately 12,000 units are targeted for assessment by April, with expert-backed interventions to be recommended by IIM Jammu.

Director Industries Jammu Arun Manhas said the portal has been technologically strengthened with stabilised architecture, enhanced dashboard analytics and a user-friendly interface. Key integrations have been completed with JK Bank for financial pattern analysis, the Power Development Department for electricity consumption trends and Udyam registration data. Integrations with GST filings and EPFO data are underway.

Officials informed the meeting that Udyam data of over 5.85 lakh MSMEs has been received from the Ministry of MSME. During the pilot phase, 75 enterprises were identified, 62 clinic sessions conducted and 14 units flagged for rehabilitation across 11 districts. In the second phase, 406 enterprises were digitally assessed, of which 87 were categorised as stressed and three as sick. The outreach now spans 20 districts.

The review noted that enterprises require support in financial and credit restructuring, raw material sourcing, supply chain stabilisation, marketing and branding, technology upgradation and skilled manpower retention. Under the upcoming third phase, targeted interventions will include in-depth interviews, stakeholder workshops, structured field visits and comprehensive revival reports.