As Union Budget provided no relief to SSIs to come out of the present crisis, the Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry (CIPI) is planning to help its members to take maximum benefit out of the existing schemes and take up the grievances with the Government.

The executive meeting and the annual general body meeting of the Confederation, scheduled here on March 25, will take stock of the post-budget situation and finalise the points to be taken up with the Government for rectification.

``Our main aim is to ensure that no more SSI pharma units face closure in the present conditions which are not favourable to us,'' CIPI chairman TS Jaishankar told Pharmabiz ahead of the executive body meeting.

Most of the State units will be represented in the meeting as about 30 delegates are expected to attend the meet. Among other things, it would also consider the report of the Sub-committee formed under the chairmanship of VS Chakarvathi and approve the appointment of the auditor. It will also finalise the constitution of a budge committee on the permanent basis.

``There are lots of schemes available for the small scale sector but most of the players are not aware of them. We will be looking to pass on the information about the same to all members with a view to make the sector stronger,'' Jaishankar said.

The meeting, which is expected to deliberate elaborately on the union budget, would also take up problems faced by the SSI units. The delay in export credits and non-release of up gradation funds by the Government are some of them.

The findings of a survey on the emerging small and medium drugs and pharmaceutical enterprises by Dun and Brastreet, central sales tax system, credit policy, amendments in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act rules, procurement policy of medicines by the Government through DGS &D rate contract and the working of the committee on subordinate legislation are also expected to come up for the discussions.

The executive committee meeting will be held in the morning and the general body would meet in the afternoon.