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FISME supports Anna’s anti-corruption crusade


The Central Executive Committee of FISME recently passed a resolution supporting Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption. The resolution said:

  1. We, the MSMEs of India, are fully supportive of the nation-wide stir caused by Anna’s movement.
  2. We now have a vision of a corruption-free India, to realize which we shall continually strive.
  3. We also demand of the government, to accord the highest priority to comprehensive reforms of the entire eco system, starting with enactment of a strong LOKPAL Act.  

While passing the resolution, the Central Executive Committee of FISME took into cognizance the fact that the chief hurdle holding back lakhs of Indian Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from realizing their full business potential, was rampant and pervasive corruption in all levels of Government including in public procurement.

Firms from across the borders are today increasingly outcompeting Indian MSMEs mainly because Indian small businesses are forced to bear the burden of much higher transaction costs arising from such burgeoning corruption. With small businesses increasingly becoming unviable due to such corruption, manufacturing growth is being severely stifled. With the very survival of MSMEs at stake, the government’s hope that the Indian MSME sector will create as much as 80~90 percent out of a total of about 100 million manufacturing jobs by 2025, may be reduced to just an empty dream.

The committee also felt that the higher one is in the government hierarchy, the higher is the person’s culpability. Over the years, our governments have generally ignored with impunity their prime responsibility to reduce corruption and set things right for the citizen. The prevailing ecosystem - a boon for those who are skilled at manipulating the system, is creating insurmountable hurdles for others who wish to be rewarded only for the value that they create. Anna Hazare’s movement is a reaction to the malaise that has been left to simmer for decades because of little or no reforms in regulatory environment and continued widening of governance-deficit.

Click here to read the full statement.  FISME’s views got some media coverage as well. Click here to read them.