Demand for declaring fibre market in UP small scale industry

A demand for designating trade in 'baadh', a type of natural fibre used to make bedstead rope, in Uttar Pradesh as small scale industry was made today by an NGO which said such a move would help in increasing its turnover and generate employment.
In a memorandum, the Uttar Pradesh Pichhda Varg Mahasabha said "the annual turnover of market for this cash crop - which supplies raw material (baadh) for preparing wooden cots to Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan - is to the tune of Rs 5 crore. It works without any government help."
"However, 'baadh' vendors in Sultanpur, majority of them belonging to Kashyap Nishad community, have not been getting the due price for their material due to the existence of middlemen. Hence, we request Government to improve the condition of the markets, eliminate middlemen and declare it as a small scale industry," said Srinath Verma, the senior vice president of the organisation.

He also urged the Centre to acquire land to set up industries and generate employment in Sultanpur area.
The Mahasabha, which has also taken up the issue with local MP Varun Gandhi, sought diversion of river Gomti for "a few miles" to meet its tributary, Jamoria, which would lead to clearing of large chunks of arable land that could be used for production of foodgrains and other activities.