The Hindu : Other States / Madhya Pradesh News : M.P. Govt. to give separate thrust to cottage industry

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Monday, Jun 13, 2005

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M.P. Govt. to give separate thrust to cottage industry

Ministers, officials instructed to spend two days in villages

MOVING AHEAD: The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, reviewed the progress of the State Governments latest initiatives for developing Bhopal as a modern State capital on Sunday. Photo: A.M. Faruqui

BHOPAL: Amidst a slew of measures to realise investment proposals to the tune of Rs. 50,000 crore, Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to lay equal thrust on cottage industry by asking Gramodyog Department to handle its affairs.

``Since Commerce and Industries Department is concentrating on investments to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore, matters relating to cottage industry are being shifted from its purview to Gramodyog Department,'' Chief Minister Babulal Gaur said here.

He said cottage industries require separate thrust and Government had framed policies to give due attention to it.

``By taking steps like promoting bio-fertiliser and banning use of cold drinks in official meetings, we have given an opportunity to the rural industry to develop,'' he said adding, milk routes are being formed to bring about a ``white revolution'' and provide a profitable platform to the farm industry.

While the Gramodyog Department has been asked to handle cottage industries, the Commerce and Industry Department has been entrusted with developing power looms which have been ailing since ages.

With modernisation picking up pace, 33245 power looms, out of 35,902 are working - several of them as sick units - in places like Burhanpur, Khandwa, Ujjain, Indore and Mandsaur.

The new arrangement would give the status of industry to the power looms enabling them to avail Central benefits.

Status of industry

Besides rearranging responsibilities, officials and Ministers are being sensitised under the theme `chalo gaon ki aur', (go to the village) Mr. Gaur said adding, instructions have been issued to the officials to spend at least four days in a month in rural areas. ``Ministers, including me, will spend two days in villages - gokul grams and ayodhya bastis - to gain an insight into development activities,'' the Chief Minister said. Progress of every Minister and department will be monitored in three months and a report card prepared, he added. Major emphasis has been given on developing infrastructure to lure investors, he said claiming most of them are so impressed by the initiatives taken by the State that at one go proposals for Rs. 30,000 crore investment to set up various projects were received from four companies during a recent visit to Mumbai. Mr. Gaur said 2005 would be the `road year' for Madhya Pradesh and Rs. 1000 crore invested through Public Works Department to construct 2000 km stretch of rural roads in the State. Besides this, roads would be constructed through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and Mandi fund, he added.

PTI

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M.P. Govt. to give separate thrust to cottage industry