HRD is an important component for the success of any organization. It is the major function of HRM and it also serves to improve the productivity of the people in their areas of work whether these are in formal or informal settings. Nadler (1994), defined HRD as a planned continuous effort by management to improve employee capacity levels and organizational performance through training education development programme. India with 300 million people still living below poverty line needs measures to uplift the status of these people. The Indian MSME sector has been instrumental in the generation of employment opportunities in the local and less educated strata of the society, particularly the poor. The MSME is considered as a vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy. Keeping in view the importance of MSME sector in employment generation, a study has been undertaken in this area and also focus has been given to the development of human resources in rural India to evaluate the current scenario of contribution of MSME sector for job creation with special reference to the state of Assam.

KEYWORDS: HRD, MSME, Productivity, Employment Opportunities, Assam