Harsimrat Kaur Badal urges PLI scheme extension for MSMEs

During a recent discussion in the Lok Sabha, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a leader from the Shiromani Akali Dal, urged the government to extend the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to small industries. She believes this would help create more jobs and boost exports and revenue. Kaur highlighted that the current PLI scheme mainly benefits large corporations. She pointed out that small industries, which play a crucial role in job creation, need support too. She mentioned specific sectors, such as the sports goods and brass industries, which could thrive with the right incentives. She expressed concern about the government's focus on job creation, stating that the economy has grown but has resulted in "jobless growth." Kaur criticized the budget for lacking a clear strategy to address layoffs caused by automation and artificial intelligence. Additionally, she noted the absence of support for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the budget, despite its vital contribution to the country's economy. Kaur emphasized that the MSME sector is responsible for a significant share of GDP and employment. Kaur also raised issues regarding farmer welfare, stating that the budget did not mention the Minimum Support Price (MSP). She criticized the government for succumbing to international pressures regarding agriculture and called for a commitment to protect India's farmers.