Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor said that government is exploring the opportunity of setting up the industrial units based on local raw material available in agriculture and horticulture. Minister was presiding over the meeting of officers of Industries Department, said that these industrial units will not only provide remunerative prices to the farmers and fruit growers for their produce but will increase the employment opportunity to the local people also. He said that Himachali entrepreneurs are also being motivated to set up small industrial units in the State and camps and seminars are also being organized for them to create awareness. He said that 157 small industrial units had been set up so far in the State.
Industries Minister said that employment avenues are also being made available to the unemployed youth at their door steps under rural artisan programme in the State and added that 3729 persons were benefitted under the programme during current financial year. He also directed the Departmental officers to make frequent field visits and popularize the industrial schemes of the Government and motivate the youth to avail the benefits of the schemes.
Kapoor said that 10,558 weavers are getting benefits under Weavers Swasthya Bima Yojna during 2010-11 and others 7000 will be benefited under Mahatma Gandhi Weavers Bima Yojna during 2011-12. He said that regular training programme for officers and officials should be organized to bring improvement in the working of the department and computerization process needed to be continued as well.
He also directed to update the website of the department so that entrepreneurs could get latest information pertaining to industries department. Harinder Hira, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries directed the officers to make data bank based on information pertaining to industrial units. J.S. Rana, Director, Industry welcomed the Chief Guest and detailed out the activities undertaken by the Department. Dinesh Malhotra, Additional Director, Industries, senior officers of the Department and General Directors, District Industry Centres attended the meeting among others.
