MSMEs want separate facilitating body
Peeved over the lackadaisical attitude of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (Idco) for development of the MSMEs (medium, small, micro enterprises) in the state, the small scale entrepreneurs have demanded creation of a separate body to look after their interest.
“The functioning of Idco is totally skewed in favour of large industries and it does not have time to look into the problems of micro and small industries,” said Smarajit Mohanty, President, District Small Scale Industries Association (DSSIA) of undivided Puri district, comprising SSI units of Khurda, Puri and Nayagarh.
Mohanty demanded formation of a dedicated body under the banner of Sidco (Small Industrial infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha) under the MSME department.
As Idco has moved away from its primary objectives of promoting the MSME sector and focusing on the large scale industrial units and profit making, a dedicated facilitating agency should be formed for MSMEs. If this is not feasible in near future, then Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) may be entrusted to look after the small scale units, said Mohanty.
The industry body opposed the recent decision to allot land to entrepreneurs under the Bhubaneswar municipal area at a rate equivalent to bench mark value determined by the revenue department.
“The land price has become Rs 5 crore per acre on an average after the government recently raised the land value at Bhubaneswar. With this move of the Idco, no micro or small scale entrepreneur can ever dream of setting up a unit in and around the city,” said a member of DSSIA.