Majority of MSMEs ignored in country, focus only on BSE, NSE: Rajiv Bajaj

Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj has said that a vast majority of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were being ignored in the country and the focus was only on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, has said that a vast majority of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were being ignored in the country and the focus was only on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) during the Covid-19 pandemic." A company like ours has done relatively better because half of what we make is exported, so we are in a very fortunate position, but I shudder to think of those companies who count among their customers, largely the domestic market, especially at the lower end of the pyramid. That is where we have been short in supporting people and organisations," Rajiv Bajaj told India Today TV.Rajiv Bajaj further said that even if Bajaj Auto stopped operations, its standstill cost would come to Rs 750 crore a year."A company like ours has Rs 20,000 crore in its books, which means Bajaj Auto can go on for 30 years standing still and still survive but a vast majority of MSMEs cannot, and they do not have a voice. Everybody in the country looks at BSE and NSE. What about MSME?" he asked. "Everybody in this country only looks at BSE and NSE. What about MSME?" Rajiv Bajaj (MD, Bajaj Auto) #NewsToday #COVID19 #CoronaVaccine #CoronavirusPandemic | @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/qeJlDokQwF "Everybody in this country only looks at BSE and NSE. What about MSME?" Rajiv Bajaj (MD, Bajaj Auto) #NewsToday #COVID19 #CoronaVaccine #CoronavirusPandemic | @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/qeJlDokQwF— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 1, 2021 Even though the businessman stressed that everyone should be vaccinated against Covid-19, he said the private sector should be involved in the inoculation drive.Rajiv Bajaj said that four 'R's should guide everyone's approach to a coronavirus pandemic -- relevance, responsibility, realism and reflection."Each individual should take equal responsibility because it is not the government that will save us. Both the government and people should act responsibly. If the Maharashtra government is closing down businesses again and if the chief minister is going to say that a second lockdown happened in the UK also, so how about some help particularly for some businesses and MSMEs in the state? You cannot just look at a part of the picture and justify your argument," he said.While talking about being realistic, Rajiv Bajaj asked the government not to be so keen on playing to the media optics.