Govt studying fiscal incentives for industries in SC/ST areas

The Centre is studying prospects of giving fiscal incentives to entrepreneurs setting up manufacturing units in backward districts with large Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population.

A group of officers was assigned to study the issue in September last year, Minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions Prithviraj Chavan informed the Lok Sabha today.

"A group of officers has been constituted in September, 2008 to study the issue of providing fiscal incentives to industries for setting up manufacturing units in backward districts with large SC/ST population," Chavan said.

The Minister said a group of ministers was organised in September 2004 to examine the issue of affirmative action, including introduction of reservation in private sector and to initiate a dialogue with industry and other associations to fulfill aspirations of SC and ST youths.

"The group met five times and also held consultations with representatives of apex industry associations. In October 2006, a coordination committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to the Prime Minister to carry forward the dialogue with industries on affirmative action in the private sector," the minister said. 

The committee held discussions with the Apex Industry Chambers and Associations and decided to constitute the groups of officers to study the issue, the minister said.