UP small, medium units want grievances addressed

In an industry conclave in Lucknow last month, Akhilesh Yadav had promised to meet industrialists once a month

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uttar Pradesh are peeved that the industrial development vision of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is not reflected on the ground.

Industry has generally been appreciative of the various industrial and economic initiatives of the state government over the last two-and-half years. However, it minces no words in claiming that the ground realities are far from satisfactory.

Giving an instance, Man Mohan Agarwal, the chairman of the Lucknow chapter of MSME chamber Indian Industries Association (IIA), said that the district-level Udyog Bandhu committee had failed to deliver any concrete result in the past two-and-a-half years.

Udyog Bandhu is the state's industry interface. The respective district magistrates (DMs) are mandated to chair the periodic meetings of the district-level committees to redress the grievances of industrialists.

"In the last two years, the Lucknow DM has not attended the meeting even once, leaving it to be chaired by his subordinate officials, who are not vested with executive powers to resolve industry-related issues," he said. "Nonetheless, the meetings are held for the sake of formality."

"It would be better if the government does away with this formality. This way, industrialists would be spared from attending the meeting and they can better utilise their time for other productive purposes," Agarwal suggested.

After coming to power in March 2012, the Akhilesh Yadav government announced fresh policies in key industry sectors, including industrial development, information technology, solar power and poultry. However, the state is yet to see any wave of private investment in the state, although UP has hosted several investment summits and partnered with industry chambers to woo businessmen.

In an industry conclave in Lucknow last month, Yadav had promised to meet industrialists once every month. This one-to-one interaction was aimed at on-the-spot resolution of issues related to industry, with industrialists needing no prior appointment to meet him. Interestingly, this meeting has also not occurred although more than a month has elapsed.

Amid the backdrop of the 'Make in India' programme recently launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Inc wants the state to move to 'action mode' to harness the state's industrial potential.

Industry has sought faster redress of grievances pertaining to availability of industrial land, power and roads, so that indigenous units are better equipped to capitalise on the scheme and fend off rising competition from other states.