Latest news with #MSEs
Mint
13 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Centre to launch online MSME dispute resolution portal on 27 June
NEW DELHI : The government is set to launch an online dispute resolution (ODR platform for small businesses to improve their ease of doing business on 27 June, according to two officials directly aware of the development. 'The MSME ODR portal has been tested, and dispute resolution using the portal has also begun during the testing phase," said one of the officials on the condition of anonymity. The portal, a part of the government's World Bank-supported Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme, is aimed at resolving delayed payment disputes by facilitating communication between debtors and micro and small enterprises (MSEs), said the second official. Also Read: Bank loan sanctions to MSMEs for job creation down nearly a third in FY25 Mint first reported on 12 March that the government was going to digitize to dispute resolution for small businesses. So far, micro and small enterprises facilitation councils (MSEFCs) have resolved disputes, especially those related to delayed payments. As of the date, 161 councils have disposed of over 52,000 cases involving transactions worth ₹9,241 crore, out of nearly 100,000 such complaints by MSEs. Data on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) ministry's delayed payment monitoring system, Samadhaan portal, showed that more than 20 MSEFCs had not resolved a single case since their launch in 2017. The data also showed a wide variance in MSEFCs' actions. While 27 MSEFCs saw not even a single case, a few councils, such as MSEFC Mumbai, MSEFC Pune, and MSEFC Gandhinagar, resolved a considerable number of cases. MSEFC Mumbai resolved 4,625 matters involving about ₹750 crore out of the 7,756 cases it received. MSEFC Pune saw 6,956 complaints and resolved 5,271 of them, involving ₹223 crore. MSEFC Gandhinagar received 6,297 grievances and resolved 5,777 cases involving ₹809 crore, showed the data. 'As of the date, approximately 42% of the applications filed by MSEs are either yet to be viewed by MSEFCs or are at the consideration stage," said Krunal Modi, founding member and chief of staff, ODR platform Presolv360. 'One of the local MSEs recently shared with us that their first meeting was called by the concerned council after four months of filing the case. Additionally, our interactions with various MSEFCs have revealed that there is not only a manpower constraint but also a lack of physical infrastructure," he added. Also Read: MSMEs call for relaxations in the new FEMA regulations for exports and imports Under the procedure laid down in the MSME Development Act, 2006, micro and small businesses can approach these councils to seek payments from buyers that have been delayed longer than 45 days. Private mediators Interestingly, the new portal will allow private ODR service providers to be empanelled, putting into motion a key provision in the Act allowing MSEFCs to delegate cases to private institutions. As per the powers given to an MSEFC under Section 18 of the Act, an MSEFC can either conduct arbitration and conciliation proceedings in cases filed or provide assistance to any institution that provides alternative dispute resolution services. Alternative dispute resolution refers to any dispute resolution that takes place beyond courts. It includes procedures such as arbitration, mediation, and conciliation, where parties can resolve their issues speedily. Independent or private institutions providing ODR services shall only provide services through the new portal, as stated in the 2 April guidelines for appointment of such firms. The guidelines said these institutions should maintain a panel of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators to resolve disputes on the portal. MSEFCs are created and operated by state or Union territory governments, as per the MSME Development Act. These states will have to enter into agreements with private ODR service providers after seeking information related to their operations. State governments will gather information related to the private ODR firms' incorporation, as well as about fees charged, the number of disputes resolved through arbitration, mediation, or conciliation, the guidelines said. More needs to be done However, the model followed by MSEFCs may not follow a key principle of arbitration—party autonomy, according to experts. 'The ADR procedure laid down in the Act has an element of conflict of interest, where the MSEFC can itself refer the matter for arbitration without mutual consent of the parties. Also, there is no bar for the conciliator or mediator sitting as an arbitrator," said P. Madhava Rao, registrar at Hyderabad's Amika Arbitration and Mediation Council, which provides ODR services. Also Read: MSME makeover: New definitions unlock bigger benefits, faster resolutions 'The main obstacle in the MSEFC ecosystem is the delay in resolving grievances and the presence of conflicts of interest," Rao added. States will also have to ensure that the dispute resolution personnel from private ODR firms abide by the MSME Development Act and the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996. The Arbitration & Conciliation Act is currently undergoing reform, with the Union ministry of law and justice pushing for more institutional arbitration, Mint reported on 18 October 2024.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Online resolution for late MSE payments likely from next week
The government is likely to next week roll out Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) for speedier resolution of delayed payment disputes for micro and small enterprises , officials said. Presently, the Samadhaan portal provides limited digital services to MSEs such as registration for dispute resolution. Under the proposed mechanism, parties can not only register their delayed payment cases but also submit documents on the portal as evidence to strengthen their case. "Right from the filing stage, sending notice, and hearing every bit will be digitised. Samadhaan portal will be subsumed under ODR. The scheme promotes document-only dispute resolution, as in commercial disputes, documents override verbal submission, " a government official told ET. MSEs will also be provided concessions in application, documentation and other processing fees. The ODR mechanism under the MSME Development Act seeks to strengthen institutional support by building human resource and technological capacity of the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC), set up under the MSMED Act, the official added. These MSEFCs will be financially assisted under the scheme to create legal capacity. Live Events The MSMED Act prescribes a 45-day window for buyers to pay their MSME suppliers, failing which they become liable to payment of interest. As part of the ODR, the government is also giving a push to AI, allowing parties to opt for an AI-facilitated dispute settlement process before approaching MSEFC.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MSE procurement targets surpassed in previous fiscal
New Delhi: Central ministries exceeded the target of buying goods and services from micro and small enterprises (MSEs) by over 94% in FY25. The ministries that had a minimum MSE procurement target of ₹100 crore bought goods and services worth ₹92,675 crore from these enterprises in the last fiscal, against a target of ₹47,676.88 crore, according to data from the MSME ministry 's Sambandh portal. These ministries had procured ₹73,800 crore worth of goods and services from MSEs in FY24. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo The petroleum & natural gas ministry led the group in procurement value, followed by the defence ministry and the power ministry. However, the finance ministry, the health & family welfare ministry and the department of space fell short of their procurement targets by huge margins, achieving only 58%, 19.60% and 2.30%, respectively, of their procurement targets. The petroleum & natural gas ministry's procurement stood at ₹31,304 crore, the defence ministry's was at ₹13,039 crore and the power ministry procured ₹11,584 crore worth of goods and services from MSEs in last fiscal. Live Events In percentage terms, though, the shipping ministry was the top performer, exceeding its procurement target from MSEs by 300%. It was followed by the ministries of petroleum & natural gas and civil aviation, which exceeded their targets by 173% and 148%, respectively.
