Date:23/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/09/23/stories/2004092301411700.htm

Back `Policy on financial, marketing support for SSIs needed'

Our Bureau

Chennai , Sept. 22

THE Centre and the Tamil Nadu Government must announce a policy on financial and marketing support for the small scale sector and ensure its implementation, said Mr K.V. Kanakambaram, President, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr Kanakambaram said while the authorities announced specific schemes or expressed an intention to support the sector, they did not follow up on them. Therefore, while the developed countries have a thriving small-scale sector, it is languishing here.

For instance, the banks have ignored the credit guarantee scheme, under which, they must extend loans up to Rs 25 lakh without demanding collateral. Also, the norms for dubbing an account a non-performing asset have become more stringent and lack flexibility. There is a gap between intention and imple-mentation, said Mr Kanakambaram. Not only should the authorities come out with a policy but must also set up a monitoring mechanism to ensure its implementation.

The Tamil Nadu Government has announced a price and purchase preference to the small-scale units on Government department purchases. But not all departments extend such preference due to various technicalities, according to him. The Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association will discuss these issues at the State-level Small and Tiny Industries Convention 2003-04 here on Friday here, he said.