Date:07/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/07/stories/2006030705320400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government will soon announce new industrial policy: Minister

Special Correspondent

It will encourage the setting up of cluster-based units in specified areas

FAMILIARISATION: Minister for Small-scales Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu being taken around the Government Tool Room and Training Centre in Bangalore on Monday by Chief Adviser of the centre A. Parthasarathy. — Photo: K Gopinathan

BANGALORE: The Government will announce a new industrial policy soon to meet the demands of small- and large-scale industries. The new policy will reduce the number of licences required to start new industries and encourage the setting up of cluster-based units in specified areas. A plan had been prepared to set up industrial clusters in 25 districts, Minister for Small-scale Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu said here on Monday.

The Government has released Rs. 100 crores for the payment of subsidy to small industries, and it will be disbursed through the Karnataka State Financial Corporation, the Minister said. He was speaking to presspersons after visiting the Government Tool Room and Training Centre.

Five more centres

Five more training centres will be set up in the State this year to double the intake of candidates for job-oriented training courses. The new centres will be opened in Gundlupet, Humnabad, Kadur, Kanakapura and Lingsugur. There is also a proposal to open training centres in Koppal, Srirangapatna and Udupi, he said.

The Government Tool Room and Training Centre, established in 1972 with assistance from the Government of Denmark, has a modern tool room and training centre with state-of-the-art equipment, machinery and inspection facilities. It has also decided to set up a training facility in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Naidu said the Government Tool Room and Training Centre has established 15 other training centres in the State and two centres in Malaysia and Turkmenistan. A training centre will be set up in Afghanistan. The Government Tool Room and Training Centre is meeting the demands of 40 clients in the country and abroad. Companies in the U.S., Japan, Germany and New Zealand have placed orders for tools, he said.

Tools for ISRO, HAL

The Government Tool Room and Training Centre has developed tools for the Indian Space Research Organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bharat Electronics and some other public sector firms.

It offers job-oriented training to young people in all aspects of tool making and related activities to create a qualitative manpower base to support the industrial sector.

Currently, the various centres provide training to 1,250 candidates a year and the number will double next year. The intake will be increased to 5,000 in the next three years, Mr. Naidu said.

It offers postgraduate, postgraduate diploma and diploma courses in tool engineering and design.

On the demand for more land for the training centre, the Minister said an acre of land will be acquired soon.

Manoj Kumar Tripathi, Managing Director of the training centre, and officials of the Industries Department explained to the Minister the activities of the centre.

Subsidy arrears

Staff Reporter writes:

The Government has decided to aid of the ailing small-scale industry sector by releasing the arrears of subsidy of Rs. 200 crores.

Mr. Naidu was speaking after inaugurating a new outlet of the Karnataka State Industrial Supplies and Marketing Cooperative Federation Ltd., here on Monday.

The Government is committed to the development of small-scale industries with an emphasis on self-reliance. It is keen on encouraging products that are in demand in the domestic market. In that context, it is considering news ways of marketing the products of khadi and village industries, he said.

In an effort to ensure stability in the domestic market for small-scale industries, the Government will establish marketing centres in all districts and taluks, Mr. Naidu said.