Assam industry body pleads new govt for uplifting economy

Kamrup Chamber of Commerce (KCC) today hoped that the new BJP-led alliance government in Assam would steer the economy of the state so that it can take its place among the developed states of the country.
Talking to newsmen here, KCC president Mahavir Jain urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who would be present at the oath taking of chief minister designate Sarbananda Sonowal here tomorrow, to revive the state's economy and bring in fresh investment by immediately restoring the NE Industrial Policy and Promotion (NEIPP) for at least 10 years.
Exemptions given in the policy should be continued, he said and added that projects of Rs 25,000 crore were held up due to the hold on NEIIPP.

The policy if restored would go a long way in solving the unemployment problem of the state, he said.
Jain said improvement of rural economy was essential to improve the purchasing power of the state's 82 per cent rural population and this would be possible only with the improvement of investment in agriculture and horticulture sectors and allied fields like food processing.
The Centre must declare these as thrust areas as they are employment intensive, while investment in oil sector is only capital intensive, he said.

Improvements in agriculture and horticulture sectors should be supplemented by increasing investment in and development of related infrastructure like cold chain in every sub-division, marketing facilities and warehouses for farmers.

Food Corporation of India should be made active at the lowest level to buy surplus food grains from farmers, Jain said adding KCC was confident that Assam has the capability to meet the food needed in the entire North East region.
The industry body also suggested declaration of tea as a national drink and said the garden owners should be allowed to use at least 50 per cent of their surplus land for agriculture/horticulture purposes.
Specialised organised crops could be grown in areas
near Brahmaputra river during the winter and a plan should be drawn up for funding seeds, marketing infrastructure, soft loans, water pumps and other essentials for the purpose.

On the central funds to the state returning to the non lapsable pool every year, he said it was due to poor performance and lack of initiatives by politicians and bureaucrats and urged the government to make people responsible wherever such funds remain unused.
Jain also pleaded for thrust to traditional handloom and handicraft sectors for self employment in rural areas, specially among women and also help save traditional designs, culture and craft.
The large presence of para military forces in the NE could be used for training the youth to enable them to join these forces, he said.
Higher fund allocation for skill development projects should also be made so that at every block and sub division can have such centres for gainful employment to the youth.