Himachal Pradesh Govt today detailed out its initiatives and achievements in strengthening of industrial sector in state on through a press release its official website.
• The Government of Himachal Pradesh has given top priority to rapid and balanced industrialization of the State with the main objective of creating employment opportunities and economic development on a sustainable basis. Compared to other hilly regions in the Country, Himachal has made significant strides in the field of industrialization.
• As on 31st May, 2012, a total number of 38790 Industrial enterprises stand registered, out of which 488 industrial enterprises are in medium and large scale sector. Total investment in these enterprises is about Rs. 16287.27 crore with employment to about 2.67 lac persons. During this period, an investment of Rs. 18280.82 crore has been approved by 5437 industrial enterprises, involving employment opportunities to 211158 persons.
• During this period, 4265 Industrial enterprises have been established of which 115 units are in the medium and large scale sector. The total investment in these units is Rs. 10167.15 crore providing employment to 57441 persons out of which 45919 are Himachalis.
• 34 meetings of the State Level Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority (SLSWC&MA) were held in which 236 new proposals were approved involving investments of Rs. 13227.04 crore and proposed employment to 87265 persons.
• The matter for extension of special package of incentives to Industries in Himachal Pradesh has been taken up at various levels with Govt. of India. The Chief Minister has also taken up this matter with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister during his visits to New Delhi and also vide D.O. letters from time to time. On 12/05/2010 the Chief Ministers of Uttrakhand & Himachal Pradesh have also signed a joint memorandum, urging Government of India to restore the cutoff date of Central Excise benefits till March, 2013 and to extend this benefit for units coming into production up to 2020.
• To attract investment in the State and to ensure easy availability of land to prospective entrepreneurs in various parts of the State, the Government has constituted a Land Bank comprising of Government and private land which are available for setting up of Industries. The Department of Industries will provide escort and facilitation services in case the entrepreneurs are willing to purchase such private land. Presently, more than 8,000 bighas of land has been included in the Land Bank in eight Districts namely Hamirpur, Sirmour, Kangra, Una, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan & Shimla.
• With a view to provide umbrella support to the industrial ventures in and around Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area BBNDA has been set up at Baddi. The Single Window Clearance Agency at Baddi is now headed by an officer of the rank of Dy. Director. A new Single Window Clearance Agency office has been opened at Nalagarh. Under this system, a single line administration has been introduced so as to ensure timely delivery of services to entrepreneurs at their doorsteps.
• To overcome the shortage of housing in the industrial belt, workers hostels are being constructed at Baddi both for male and female workers with combined housing capacity of about 1000 persons on twin sharing basis which will involve an investment of about Rs. 23 crore. The work of one block of the Working Women Hostel has been completed and the work on the 2nd block is also nearing completion. The work on the first block of the working men hostel is also in full swing.
• The State Government and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 17th October, 2008 for the construction of Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Baddi. The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 57.45 crore. The 1st phase of the project has been completed by the CONCOR at a cost of about Rs. 10 crore and the approach road to the site is nearing completion. In the first phase the ICD will be operated as Container Freight Station (CFS) till such time Rail connectivity is not available.
• The Government of India has conveyed in-principle approval for the setting up of a Mini Tool Room at Baddi involving project cost of Rs. 18.82 crore for the purpose of providing training and tooling facilities which are required by industrial enterprises. The foundation Stone of the same was laid by the Union MSME Minister on 18th April, 2012.
• To facilitate exports from the State, the Government has also initiated a proposal to set up a Trade Centre at Baddi with an estimated cost of Rs. 10.81 crore. The State Govt. has identified land measuring 35 bighas for this Centre and financial assistance of Rs. 5.40 crore for this project has been released to BBNDA. The work to establish this centre is in progress.
• A hazardous waste management plant has also been operationalised at village Majra, Tehsil Nalagarh, with a cost of Rs 35 crore to preserve the environment and ecology of the State.
• The Government of India has given approval for Pharma and Allied Industries cluster which will cover setting up of a Common Effluent Treatment Plant and upgradation of roads at Baddi with estimated cost of Rs. 70.54 crore. The GOI will provide assistance to the tune of Rs. 58.20 crore for this project. The project involves setting up of a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at a cost of Rs. 53.80 crores, Skill Development Centre at a cost of Rs. 8.10 crores and development and strengthening of internal roads at a cost of Rs. 17.42 crores. The project is being implemented through BBNDA. The environmental clearance for the CETP project has been received from the Ministry of Environment & Forests and the work will now be started. The work of strengthening of roads and setting up of Skill Development Centre are in progress.
• The concept of escort services to the entrepreneurs in getting various approvals/clearances from the concerned Deptts/Boards has been introduced by designating the Nodal Officer for each project approved by the State Level Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority in the medium and large scale industrial sector.
• Emphasis is being laid on planning and provision of basic infrastructure like good roads, power transmission and distribution network, civic, social and housing amenities as also promote setting up of the requisite institutional framework. An amount of about Rs. 60 crore has been spent on infrastructure development during the last four and half years. Out of this, an amount of Rs. 9 crore has been provided to HPSEB, Rs. 1.02 crore to I&PH Department Rs. 1.22 crore to HPPWD Rs. 2.81 crore to BBNDA and the remaining amount has been spent through HPSIDC Ltd for the development of various infrastructure facilities.
• Under the ASIDE Scheme of Centre Rs. 25.13 crore have been spent in the State for developing infrastructure for exports. Major infrastructure works which have been implemented/being implemented under the Scheme include providing six lanes at Parwanoo Barrier, setting up of Inland Container Depot at Baddi and Nalagarh,
• A new Industrial Area has been set up at Lodhi Majra in Solan district having an area of 650 bighas. About 1532 bighas of land is also being acquired at village Dabhota, Tehsil Nalagarh. Similarly 643 bighas of land is being acquired at Kala-Amb for the setting up of a new state of the art Industrial Area with all the infrastructure facilities will be provided.
• RFD :- Apart from above, during the last financial year 2011-12, the Department has also generated employment under self employment schemes against yearly target of 29500, employment has been generated for 31810 persons. Against the target of attracting direct investment of Rs. 1850 crores, the Department has achieved the investment of Rs. 2490 crores. Similarly, it was envisaged to provide employment to 10800 persons against whom the employment was generated for 18793 persons.
• The Department has collected the royalty amount Rs. 395.32 crore since 2008 – 2012
• The Department has detected 10987 cases of illegal mining/transportation and a penalty of Rs 2.74 crore has been imposed on the defaulter.
• Silk reeling unit of Nurpur Silk Mill is revived with financial assistance by the Department where silk-yarn and silk fabric production has been restarted during year 2011-12.
• Silk Seed Production centre at Palampur is revived where production of hybrid silk seed is restarted from the month September, 2011.
• Oak Tasar Silk Cluster Development Project (2008-12) in district Mandi and Kangra implemented in collaboration with the Central Silk Board where it covered 70 beneficiaries at the outlay of 42 lakh. Cluster Mulberry Sericulture Development Project (2008-12) in District Hamirpur and Mandi implemented in collaboration with the central Silk Board where it covered 250 beneficiaries at the outlay of 184.153 lakh. Mulberry Sericulture Development Project in District Mandi implemented in collaboration with a non-Governmental Organization BAIF Pune where it covered 100 beneficiaries the outlay of 39 lakhs. SCA Sericulture Development Project for Jagatkhana area in District Bilaspur H.P. (2008-12) implemented in District Bilaspur where it covered 100 beneficiaries at the outlay of 64.39 lakhs.
• During the current period 2011-2012 Sericulture farmers’ families 9044 were covered for silk production. A total 739.76 metric tone silk cocoons were produced which was converted into 94.09 metric ton raw silk of value Rs. 16.631 crore. The Handloom sector, with a long tradition of excellence in its craftsmanship, occupies a place of eminence in preserving the State’s heritage and culture and plays a vital role in the economy. The handloom industry in Himachal Pradesh is one of the important cottage industries which is providing gainful employment to about 45000 handloom weavers. The main handloom concentration areas are Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, Kinnaur, Chamba, Shimla and Lahaul Spiti districts. The main handloom products are Shawls, Stoles, Tweeds and Dress material etc. For the survival of Kullu and Kinnauri Shawls being woven in Kullu and Kinnaur Districts, the Government of India has registered it under “Geographical Indicators (GI)” Act.
• With a view to promote growth of Industries in the State, the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion in year 1971, introduced Scheme for grant of 75% Transport Subsidy on the transportation costs of raw materials and finished goods to and fro from outside the Himachal Pradesh from the designated broad gauge railway heads to the factory site on actual freight charges paid to transporters by the Industrial Units. It is applicable to all the new Industrial Units for a period of first five years from the date of commencement of commercial production.
• While supporting industry fully, we expect industry to co-operate with us especially in matter of providing job opportunities to local people. We expect industry to share with us the responsibility of creating a pool of trained manpower which is employable in industry. We are always open to suggestions and feedback to improve the delivery system wherever required and are hopeful that we can foster an environment of constructive partnership so as to further develop our State.
Achievements of the Labour and Employment Department
• State Government is committed towards the welfare of workers and to ensure their welfare Labour Laws and Rules made there under are implemented strictly. The minimum wages of unskilled workers have been increased from Rs-75 per day to Rs-130 per day which has resulted in financial benefits of Rs-20,075 per year. This increase is also applicable to the unskilled workers working in Private Sector.
• The Government has made H.P.Building and Other Construction Workers(Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services)Rules, 2008 and Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board was constituted and notified in March, 2009, so that the workers working in Building and Other Construction may get better safety at the workplace, Medical and other welfare facilities.
• The Board is also providing insurance and health benefits, pension, loan for purchase/construction of house, disability pension, loan for purchase of tools, death benefits, medical assistance, financial assistance for education of children, financial assistance for marriage of children, transit hostels for construction workers.
• Cess amounting to Rs-122 crore has been collected and deposited in the welfare fund after the constitution of Board and about 6500 beneficiaries have been provided financial benefits of Rs-7,75,000. 648 establishments have been registered and 8400 building and other construction workers have been registered as beneficiaries during this period. 93 posts of different categories have been sanctioned to make its work functional at district level. 2,82,474 identity cards were issued to the workers upto May, 2012.
• All the offices of the Labour and Employment Department have been computerized. The registration and renewal of candidates in the Employment Exchanges is being done through computer. Out of 67 Employment Exchanges 63 are on-line.
• 80,806 inspections have been conducted under the Labour and Employment laws during this period by the Labour and Employment Department. 1194 factories were registered and Rs11,00,60,409 received as fee. Besides this, special inspection drive was initiated to ensure safety and implementation of safety rules in 300 factories. Result frame Work Document has been prepared to achieve the objectives of the Department and to ensure time bound execution and disposal of various targets.
• From January, 2008 to April, 2012, 960 campus interviews have been conducted so that more and more employment opportunities can be provided to the youth of the State and 10,450 employment opportunities were provided. Similarly, employment opportunities were given to 9,828 youth by organizing 15 Rojgar Melas. 230 youth who were possessing skilled and technical ability were provided employment in Private Sector. 3,598 youth were got placed in Government jobs through Employment Exchanges during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. It was for the first time in the State that with co-ordination with the Indian Air Force one each Airman Recruitment Rally was organized in Shimla and Sujanpur during the months of June, 2009 and April, 2010 and in each Rally more than 300 youth were selected.
• 792 physically handicapped persons have got employment through the Special Employment Exchange (for Physically Handicapped) in Government Offices, Boards and Corporations etc of the State.
• Software has also been developed to send employment and vacancies alert to the youth and from June, 2012 onwards SMS Alerts are being sent regarding Rojgar Melas and Campus Interviews through this software.
