National

CII prepares Rajasthan’s roadmap for a higher share in GDP

JAIPUR: A new Industrial Policy for Rajasthan drafted by the Confederation of Indian Industry has sought better road, rail and air connectivity, improvement in power availability, creation of land banks and rationalisation of land rates for enhancing the State’s share in the GDP from the current 4 per cent to 5 per cent. The draft, prepared by the CII at the behest of the State Government with Yes Bank as a knowledge partner, was presented to the authorities here on Monday.

Sharing the contents of the draft policy with the journalists, CII Rajasthan State Council chairman R. K. Poddar said there was an urgent need to update the policies to suit the socio-economic conditions prevailing at the State, national and international levels.

The previous Industrial Policy was prepared in Rajasthan in 1998 and that was named “Investment Policy”, he noted.

“This policy aims at preparing a model suited for Rajasthan to make it a preferred investment destination,” Mr. Poddar said. “The effort should be to capitalise on the State’s strengths ensuring rapid growth of its thrust sectors, overcoming its weaknesses and putting in place policies and mechanisms to provide fast approvals and requisite infrastructure to attract investors,” he noted.

The policy, while suggesting quality upgradation of road links to industrial hubs, also seeks airstrips in important industrial clusters such as Bhilwara, Beawar, Bikaner and Kota and increased frequency of trains on industrial routes and a uni-gauge system throughout the State.

“Rajasthan’s air and rail connectivity still remains poor. Jaipur airport should be made an international airport in the real sense with a runway of 12,000 feet. All airports in the State should have containerised cargo facilities,” said Tushar Pandey of Yes Bank.

The draft, in its key recommendations, lists rationalisation of the SEZ Act/policy with the prevailing industrial laws in the State and setting up of integrated industrial townships (IITs) and an international convention centre in Jaipur. The existing Wasteland Development Policy should be modified to accommodate IBPAs (integrated bio-diesel production areas), agro-based projects using water conservation techniques, wind farming and eco-tourism projects and wasteland economic zones (WEZs), it adds.

The policy finds the manpower/labour situation in Rajasthan rather paradoxical.

“There is a serious situation on the labour front in the State. Skilled or even semi-skilled persons are not available. The non-availability has made labour dictating terms to the industry rather than the industry dictating to them,” said Kishore Khaitan, convener of the CII panel on Economic Affairs and Taxation.

“We don’t find qualified electricians, plumbers, welders, fitters and masons, to name a few areas. Vocational training centres are needed to be set up at a mass scale in the State,” Mr. Khaitan noted.The draft policy document -- result of six months’ research in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Bhiwadi, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Neemrana, Bikaner and Kota by CII and Yes Bank teams and interaction with different stakeholders -- is being studied by the State authorities.

“The Chief Secretary has promised to get back to us after a month,” say CII functionaries.

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