In a significant move towards promoting sustainable industrial development and improving resource efficiency, the Department of Industries, Himachal Pradesh, conducted awareness workshops under the Central Government’s ‘Greening of MSMEs’ initiative. These workshops, held on August 5, 2025, in Solan and Parwanoo, aim to empower over 2,500 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the state with practical knowledge on sustainable practices.
Jointly organized by Frost & Sullivan and Tinge Consultancy, the workshops provided specialized training on key areas such as energy conservation, waste management, water efficiency, and green financing. These efforts are part of the Government of India’s broader RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) program, supported by the World Bank.
The Solan workshop saw active participation from around 50 attendees, representing approximately 40 to 45 MSME units. Several dignitaries were present at the event, including A.K. Gautam (DFO, MSME Ministry), Rahul Bansal (Assistant Director Grade-1, IEDS), Shashank Bhagat (Manager, SIDBI), Surender Thakur (General Manager, DIC Solan), and Balraj Sharma (Industrial Promotion Officer).
Participants took part in hands-on sessions and interactive discussions focused on energy-saving strategies, waste recycling techniques, water conservation, and innovative financing models to support green initiatives. Surender Thakur described the workshop as highly productive, noting that the sessions on energy efficiency and SIDBI’s financial schemes were especially beneficial for MSMEs looking to adopt cleaner production methods.
In addition to core training topics, the workshops also introduced participants to advanced concepts such as Resource-Efficient Cleaner Production (RECP), zero-emission targets, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, circular economy principles, and carbon emission reduction strategies. Information was also shared on digital monitoring tools and connections to green technology providers to help enterprises implement and scale sustainable practices.
A.K. Gautam and Rahul Bansal also took the opportunity to present various schemes from the Ministry of MSME that are designed to provide financial and technical support to enterprises undertaking green transitions. They assured attendees of full backing from the government to help MSMEs take advantage of these initiatives.
As part of the larger plan under the ‘Greening of MSMEs’ initiative, approximately 1,900 MSMEs in Himachal Pradesh have already been linked to structured green interventions. The government aims to extend this reach to over 2,500 enterprises in the near future.
Participants praised the workshops for their practical value. Sukhbir Singh from Nanak Flour Mills remarked, “The workshop on greening MSMEs provided valuable insights into waste reduction and energy efficiency. It was extremely beneficial and informative for MSME units. Experts offered excellent guidance and resolved all our queries.”
These workshops mark a vital step forward in Himachal Pradesh’s journey toward building a more sustainable and resilient industrial sector.
शिमला के पांच मंदिरों में ‘भोग योजना’ लागू, भंडारे की गुणवत्ता पर विशेष ध्यान
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
