Small industries plea to continue subsidy scheme
The small industries' associations in the State have appealed to the Centre to continue the 15 per cent credit linked capital subsidy scheme for the small industries.A group of industrialists, representing the small-scale industry associations in the State, met the President, ministers and officials of the Ministry for SSI in New Delhi recently.In a memorandum, they sought continuation of the scheme, as it will encourage investments in the sector and modernise their units.The small-scale pump and motor manufacturers should be encouraged to get Bureau of Indian Standards certification, to get excise duty exemption. However, the Government should simplify the certification process and should not make the certification mandatory.The definition of Small Scale Industries should be based on the annual turnover along with investment in plant and machinery.The MSMED Act should have a single comprehensive labour law with simplified procedures.
Registration of the small-scale units should be made mandatory as in countries such as Germany. The registration should be done with the involvement of the industry associations.The Government should also come out with procurement policy so that products made by the small-scale units had a priority in Government purchases.The industry associations should be benchmarked and empowered further, they said.The other areas of concern were credit availability, lack of infrastructure development and the need for better monitoring systems.
