KOZHIKODE: Industry Minister Elamaram Karim has said that revival, modernisation and development of public service undertakings will be the focus of the policy being followed by the Government to improve the industrial scenario in the State.

Announcing a slew of schemes, Mr. Karim told mediapersons here on Monday that the renewed impetus being given for industrial uplift would include small-scale and traditional industries such as handloom and khadi, tile and beedi.

Setting up of industrial parks that would be provided on lease to entrepreneurs, creating investor-friendly climate through effective single window clearance were some of the steps being taken by the Government to assist entrepreneurs.

The reopening of the Malabar Spinning and Weaving Mills at Tiruvannur in Kozhikode on November 13 would set the trend for PSU revival in the State.

"The Government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs.55 crore to revive PSUs when compared to Rs.5 crore by the previous Government," he said.

While all efforts were being made to invite prospective entrepreneurs to the State by organising investor meets such as the one held in Kannur recently, an infrastructure development company would be set up so that basic facilities were made available.

Investments from non-resident Indians would be welcomed in setting up a public limited company with a paid up capital of Rs.200 crore.

Efforts were on to reopen the Thiruvananthapuram Spinning Mills at Balaramapuram that was closed as per the recommendation of the Enterprises Reforms Committee during the tenure of the UDF Government.

"As many as a dozen PSUs, including Keltron, United Electricals, Kerala Hightech Industries, (Angamaly), are some of the units for which revival packages will be worked out this year itself," the Minister said.

An internal market would be created for the products of the PSUs by the units buying each other's products.

With a view to promoting handloom-khadi sector, wearing of hand-woven fabric would be made mandatory one day a week for school students.

A Rs.4-crore package was being implemented to rehabilitate women workers in the beedi sector that was on the decline by setting up garment-making units at Pinarayi and Kanhagad.

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