UP Inc jumps onto anti-corruption bandwagon

In the backdrop of social activist Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption, Uttar Pradesh Inc has also joined the anti-corruption bandwagon.

Industry has decided to create awareness on the issue and evolve a consensus for the future course of action.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) chamber Indian Industries Association (IIA) has issued an open letter to its members expressing happiness that the Centre had announced to introduce the Lok Pal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament as demanded by Hazare.

However, in the letter IIA president Anil Gupta mentioned that while the central government had agreed to table the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, the industrialists and entrepreneurs should also decide on their contribution.

“We have invited opinions from our members on this vital issue and our members have already started responding positively,” IIA executive director D S Verma told Business Standard.

IIA has about 7,000 members across various chapters in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere. It is the apex MSME body and is a major stakeholder in the industrial sector of the state, considering that there are over three million MSMEs in the state and the sector contributes 60 per cent of the state’s industrial output.

Earlier, when Hazare was observing indefinite fast demanding the Centre to take steps for introducing Lokpal Bill in Parliament, an IIA delegation had visited Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which was the venue of agitation.

IIA had started a signature campaign among its chapters to support the movement and planned a national media conference at Jantar Mantar on April 12, besides handing over the support signatures to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Since, Anna Hazare has broken his fast and the Centre has agreed for the Lokpal Bill, the media conference plan has been dropped,” Verma informed.

IIA has pledged to support Hazare’s movement, till it remained a non-political platform.