Land ceiling, reforms agenda before MCC

The newly-elected president of Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (MCC), Santosh Saraf, has said the chamber's agenda for the coming year consisted of five thrust areas "" healthcare, education and vocational training, small scale industries (SSI), improvement of tourists spots, and abolition of the Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULCA) and West Bengal Land Reforms Act (WBLRA) to promote agriculture and agri-business.

According to Saraf, ULCA had been abolished by the Union government and most state governments.

However, West Bengal held on to this act along with the WBLR (amendment) Act of 2005, imposing certain restrictions on investment in cash crops, contract farming and other areas.

"We are in talks with the government for the abolition of these acts which would allow investment in cash crops and contract farming and accelerate the growth of agriculture and agri-processing industry in West Bengal. The response from the government so far has been favourable, but we plan to carry on with our efforts till this change is implemented", said Saraf.

He said the chamber would urge the state government to facilitate the setting up of private hospitals and dispensaries in rural areas by providing private investors with tax holidays and other facilities.

He said medical insurance should be made available to all at low premium rates with procedural formalities at a minimum.

To meet the shortage of suitable employees for information technology and its enabled services as well as bio-tech sectors, Saraf said more quality education institutes and vocational training centres were needed in the state immediately.

In view of rising unemployment in the state, Saraf said the government should promote SSIs.

The chamber had set up a standing committee to work closely with SSIs and cottage industries department of the state government.

It would assist new entrepreneurs in selecting lines of production, getting bank finance and other facilities.

Saraf highlighted the need to improve and beautify main roads to the railway station, airport and inside the city to bring them up to international standards.

The chamber would like quick action on this, said Saraf.