JAMMU, Mar 31: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level review of the Industries & Commerce Department to evaluate the performance of the MSME Health Clinic set up under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme, a key initiative aimed at supporting stressed and sick enterprises in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Dulloo stressed the need for a result-oriented and coordinated approach to strengthen the initiative. He directed officials to make optimal use of institutional support available within the Union Territory, including expertise from IIM Jammu, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), and academic institutions. He emphasized forming multidisciplinary teams involving professionals and trained interns to carry out systematic assessments of MSMEs.
The Chief Secretary outlined a structured evaluation mechanism, beginning with virtual assessments followed by field visits for on-ground verification and advisory support. He also called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and streamline the identification of stress levels in enterprises.
Highlighting the importance of timely intervention, Dulloo asked the department to set clear daily and monthly targets to expand outreach through both digital platforms and physical engagement. He directed that MSMEs be classified into stable, stressed, and sick categories, ensuring that each unit receives tailored advisory and financial support in coordination with Jammu & Kashmir Bank.
He further advised exploring innovative financial solutions, including loan restructuring options in alignment with banking norms, to ease financial pressure on struggling units. Emphasizing policy alignment, he noted that insights from the MSME Health Clinic should inform and refine the Union Territory’s industrial policy for more targeted and evidence-based support.
The Chief Secretary also called for wider awareness and capacity-building initiatives through workshops and outreach programmes in collaboration with IIM Jammu and Small Business Development Units under Mission YUVA. He urged IIM Jammu to take a leading role in developing the clinic into a model framework for MSME support in the region.
Director IIM Jammu, B S Sahay, assured full institutional backing and proposed the creation of detailed informational material, including standard operating procedures and diagnostic guidelines, to assist MSMEs. He also committed to supporting training and team formation for effective implementation.
Providing an update, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Vikramjit Singh informed that 3,968 MSMEs have registered on the Health Clinic portal so far. In the initial phases, 1,238 enterprises were digitally assessed, with a majority found stable, while a smaller segment was identified as stressed or sick.
He added that verification of MSME data is being carried out in collaboration with J&K Bank to enhance credibility and outreach. Additionally, chatbot-based systems are under development to provide real-time assistance to enterprises.
Director Industries & Commerce Jammu, Arun Manhas, stated that the initiative has already covered 12 districts, with multiple online consultations completed. Several units have been shortlisted for targeted rehabilitation, supported by field visits and direct engagement.
In the ongoing phase, over 1,500 MSMEs have been assessed digitally, with most categorized as stable, while a notable portion requires intervention. Detailed diagnostic studies and structured interactions with stressed units are set to begin soon, marking a shift toward focused revival efforts.
The MSME Health Clinic under the RAMP scheme is a strategic initiative of the Government of India aimed at early detection of financial and operational stress, providing expert guidance, and enabling structured recovery pathways to strengthen the MSME sector.