SMEs come forward in favor of Anna's movement

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SME Times News Bureau | 24 Aug, 2011
Unanimously expressing its solidarity to Anna's movement against corruption, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) today said that the manufacturing sector is not growing because the burden of corruption has become untenable on small businesses.

FISME today in its press statement said, "We, the MSMEs of India, are fully supportive of the nationwide stir caused by the Anna’s movement. We now have a vision of a corruption free India, to realize, which we will continually strive. We also demand of the government, highest priority to comprehensive reforms of the entire eco system, starting with enactment of a strong LOKPAL Act."

FISME in its Central Executive Committee meeting recognized that the root cause of most constraints and impediments holding back lakhs of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from prospering according to their potential, is the all pervading corruption in all tiers of the Governments including in public procurement.

The modern day Indian MSMEs, forced to bear higher transaction costs as a result of the burgeoning corruption, are being increasingly outcompeted by firms from across the borders. That is why manufacturing is not growing because the burden of corruption has become untenable on small businesses, said the apex body in press statement.

With their own survival at stake, the hope the government is harbouring from the MSMEs of creating 80~90% of the 100m manufacturing jobs by 2025 may be reduced to an empty dream.

FISME is the largest grass root organization of 730 associations spread all over India and having collective membership of over 1 million SMEs.

The committee also felt that the higher up one is in hierarchy, higher is his culpability. Our governments over the years have generally ignored with impunity their prime responsibility to reduce corruption and set things right for the citizen. The prevailing ecosystem- a boon for those who are skilled at manipulating the system, is causing insurmountable hurdles for others who wish to be rewarded only for value they create.

The Anna Hazare’s movement is a reaction to the malaise that has been left to simmer for decades because of little or no reforms in regulatory environment and continued widening of governance-deficit, it said.

It also said that the Jan Lokpal bill prepared by the ‘civil society’ should have been viewed by the Governments and the Political parties as a shining example of empowerment of the people and a way forward for the future for our maturing democracy. By arguing legislative initiatives as their sole prerogative and constitutional right, the politicos of our country have not shown themselves in the best of light.