Govt. urged to come out with SSI policy

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 28. The small-scale sector has called upon the Union Government to formulate an SSI policy to look into issues related to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement.

Office-bearers of the Southern States Industries' Association (SSIA), comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh, told presspersons here on Monday that they would submit a 11-point "Common Pre-Budget Memorandum" in January to the ministry concerned.

The SSIA members said they wanted the Centre to announce an SSI policy and enact a separate Small Business Act (SBA). Moreover, they believed that the Centre should form a separate ministry, headed by a Cabinet Minister, to look into WTO-related issues.

Availability of raw materials at competitive prices, provision of electricity at uniform rates throughout the country and loans at PLR interest rates were some of their other demands.

The SSIA wanted the Centre and State governments to purchase 50 per cent of their (governments) requirements from the SSI sector with 10 per cent being earmarked for women entrepreneurs. Besides, they urged the Centre to evolve a tiny sector policy, a uniform labour law for the SSI sector as well as reduction in the highest investment level from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.

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Section  : Southern States
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