A one-day awareness workshop on Environment and Social Management (ESM) was organised under the World Bank–assisted Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme at the MSME Development and Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO) auditorium in Kalaburagi on January 28.
The programme was organised by the District Industries Centre and the Department of Industries and Commerce, Kalaburagi, with the objective of creating awareness among women entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs on the importance of environmental sustainability and social responsibility in business practices.
Inaugurating the workshop, Bhanwar Singh Meena, Chief Executive Officer of the Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat, explained the objectives and scope of the RAMP scheme and called upon registered MSME women entrepreneurs of the Kalyana Karnataka to adopt innovation, creativity and sustainable practices while starting new ventures.
He said RAMP is a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, supported by the World Bank, aimed at improving the performance, competitiveness and resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The programme focuses on enhancing market access and credit availability, promoting innovation, encouraging adoption of new technologies, addressing delayed payments, strengthening institutional mechanisms, and supporting the ‘greening’ of MSMEs.
“The long-term success of MSMEs depends not only on profitability but also on their commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility,” Mr. Meena said, adding that sustainable business models would help MSMEs integrate better with global supply chains.
Presiding over the workshop, Abdul Azeem, Joint Director of the District Industries Centre, urged women entrepreneurs to make full use of the technical sessions and incorporate environmental considerations into their self-employment ventures and start-ups.
Following the inauguration, a series of technical sessions were held to sensitise participants to key environmental and regulatory issues in the industrial sector. Resource person Devaraj spoke on food safety regulations and compliance requirements, while B.H. Sharada delivered a detailed presentation on pollution control measures and environmental safeguards. Ravigouda highlighted the range of banking support systems and credit facilities available to MSMEs, emphasising the role of financial institutions in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship.
Other experts, including B.S. Javalagi, Rekha N. Mageri, and Syed Ashfaq Ahmed, addressed the gathering on capacity building, skill development, training opportunities and institutional support mechanisms for entrepreneurs.
Officials from the Department of Industries and Commerce and around 120 MSME entrepreneurs participated in the workshop, which featured in-depth discussions on environmental safeguards, social management practices, regulatory compliance and pathways for sustainable industrial growth.
Published – January 29, 2026 01:12 pm IST
