Friday, July 13, 2012

TN vows to implement welfare schemes to improve infra for traditional industries


Chennai:
The state government on Thursday vowed to implement various welfare measures including funds for improving infrastructure, developing skills of artisans besides improving marketing facilities for traditional industries.

Speaking after inaugurating Traditional Industries of Tamil Nadu --- Conference cum Exhibition 2012, organized by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rural Industries Minister M C Sampath said the state has 7.6 lakh micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) registered with an investment of more than Rs 30,000 crore and providing livelihood to 52.99 lakh people.

He said during the last financial year 3,824 micro, small and medium enterprises were provided with subsidies worth Rs 66.50 crore. He said under the XIIth five plan, the state has a proposal for having common facilitation centers for 100 industrial clusters besides offering MSME 20 per cent land in SIPCOT industrial parks. He also wooed private players to set up industrial units in the land by offering infrastructure subsidy.

G Santhanam, principal secretary handlooms, handicrafts, textiles and khadi department highlighted how Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Co-operative Society, popularly known as Co-optex, got a new lease of life by following innovative programmes and aggressive marketing to attract customers. He also said state government’s scheme of providing four sets of stitched uniform for school students was to help unorganized sector and weavers so that they are not deprived of employment.

He said Cooptex, which has 1,182 cooperative societies, had a turnover of Rs 220 crore last year and during this financial year the target is to double it to Rs 440 crore. He also said in a bid to encourage artisans in Poompuhar, Tamilnadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, the wages have been doubled from Rs 3,000 –Rs 5,000 to more than Rs 10,000.

Niranjan Mardi, principal secretary MSME, M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman FICCI, Tamil Nadu State Council, and Abdul Azeez, convenor of Traditional Industries Panel, FICCI TNSC also spoke on the occasion.

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