The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Manufacturing to be given a boost: Chidambaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Manufacturing to be given a boost: Chidambaram

Special Correspondent

Council to be set up to help produce quality goods

CHENNAI: "The Government of India wants to give a push to the manufacturing sector so as to generate more employment opportunities in the country," said Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram here on Saturday.

The manufacturing sector had not grown like the services sector after Independence. While the percentage of service sector was 52 per cent, it was only 27 per cent in the case of the manufacturing sector. To give it a boost, the Government had set up a National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council to select 10 or 12 industries for producing high-quality goods of international standard, said Mr. Chidambaram. He was participating in the silver jubilee of the Indian National Trade Union Congress in T.I. Cycles.

Applauding the union for its cordial relations with the management, the Minister said growth in a country was not possible without industrial peace. Describing strikes as a powerful weapon, he said workers should use it sparingly. He reminded them how the strike in their factory in 1978 had affected the lives of many workers. Such a situation should not be repeated. Both the management and the union should realise their duties and work for the growth of the company. He released a souvenir on the occasion.

The chairman of Tube Investments of India Ltd, M.A. Alagappan, thanked the union for its support to the management at times of crisis.

The general secretary of the state unit of INTUC, G. Kalan, recalled how workers stood united in 1978 to revive the factory after it was closed for about 10 months.

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