MSME bizmen upbeat on next phase of EoDB reforms

Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP)

- Simplification of procedures

- Rationalization of tax structure

- Total digitization

- Creating online interfaces eliminating manual forms and records

- Decriminalization of minor violations

Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary general, Fisme, said that the ministries concerned have been working hard; they have been regularly meeting the stakeholders. But things have not been working out as desired. Implementation happens at the State level. And states are not as enthusiastic about BRAP as the Centre is

New Delhi: It is not very often that when a minister makes a claim, the people directly affected by that claim support him. However, what Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce & Industry Som Parkash said in Parliament on Wednesday has been supported by the stakeholders.

The Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), which is under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is spearheading the next phase of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), which is aimed at reducing compliance burden on businesses and citizens, Parkash said. "The exercise is an on-going effort, aimed at achieving a conducive regulatory environment."

He listed the key focus areas of the initiative: simplification of procedures related to applications, renewals, inspections, filing records, etc; rationalization by repealing, amending or subsuming redundant laws; digitization by creating online interfaces eliminating manual forms and records; and decriminalization of minor violations.

The DPIIT holds regular meetings with Central Ministries and Departments to identify and implement reforms for enhancing Ease of Doing Business, he said. "Regular interactions are also held with industry associations to understand concerns of the industry and facilitate resolutions of these issues."

The Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) exercise commenced in December 2014, he said. For this, consultations are held with states and Union Territories while preparing BRAP for implementation at the state level.

Under BRAP exercise, all States and Union Territories (UTs) are assessed on the basis of reforms implemented by them on designated parameters, Parkash said. "BRAP covers reform areas such as access to information and transparency, the single window system, land administration, transfer of land, property, etc."

Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (Fisme) supported the claim, saying that the Central government's intent is very good.

Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General, Fisme, said: "The ministries concerned have been working hard; they have been regularly meeting the stakeholders. But the test of the pudding is in the eating, and it is here that things have not been working out as desired. Implementation happens at the State level, and states are not as enthusiastic about BRAP as the Centre is."

Rajiv Arora, General Secretary, Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area, Uttar Pradesh, also echoed similar views. "There has been a sea change in the last few years," he said, adding that doing business has become a lot easier than it was 10 years ago.

For instance, the Nivesh Mitra portal (https://niveshmitra.up.nic.in/), literally meaning Friend of Investment, has been a big assistance to entrepreneurs, he said.