|
Laghu Udyog Bharati
SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES :
THE SCENE
Traditionally, the Small Scale Industries have been the backbone of our
national economy. With a few thousand units at the time of independence ,
the number of SSI units have risen to a whopping 100 lakhs with one third
of them registered affroding employment to more than five crore people
claiming a share of 50% in the gross turnover in the manufacturing
sector.In the segment, the SSI units accounter for 60% of the total
exports, direct & indirect.
THE ADVENT OF LAGHU
UDHYOG BHARATI
Despite significant role played by the
small scale industry sector in the national economy, it has not been able
to organise itself as a unifield force to get its due representation in
the Government's policy-making process. Small scale units all over the
country are, apparently, in need of an effective central body tobe able to
make its own strong and authenic lobby to take up the cause of long
suffering small scale industries on a national level.
In a geniune effort to organise Small Scale sector, Ladhgu Udgyag Bharati
made its bow in 1994 and took up the cudgels to fight the various ills
Plaguing the sector and remove impedements coming in the way of the small
scale units. Today Laghu Udhyog Bharati, in a short span, has grow
tremendously with its membership spread over the lenght and breadth of the
country.
A MAJOR SUCCESS
A major success has come its way when, on
repeated demands, the Government has allocated a separate Ministry for the
Small Scale Industry which Laghu Udyog Bharati believes is a "step in the
right direction." For the first time a number representing the SSI has
been nominated on the national on labor.
Laghu Udyog Bharati gives a clarion call to all Small scale industrialists
to come under its secured umbrella and join the onerous task which the LUB
has taken upon itself to make the SSI sector in hthe country a force to
reckon with and gear up itself to face the looming challenges of the new
millennium.
THE TARGET:
Laghu Udyog Bharati aims to develop a fresh
work culture with nationalist fevour and inculcate in small interpreneurs
a sense of confidence by fighting for their cause on multi-fronts.
In the present environment of competitiveness and liberalisation, it
becomes imperative that the small scale industries gear up with latest
trends in technology, management, marketing strategy as liberalisation
opens the door for global competition.
SMALL INDUSTRIES INFORMATION & SERVICE CENTRE:
Laghu Udyog Bharati has taken up the project Small Industries Information
and service Centre(SSISC) for the development of Small Scale Industry by
providing support in communication, publicity, marketing, technology
upgradation, modernisation and in solving the problem faced by them.
In the first phase of establishment of this
centre, Laghu Udyog Bharati has set up its own website and it is connected
with the world network. It has been inuagurated by Shri Yashwant Sinha,
Hon'ble Union Finance Minister on
16th
August, 99. It is for the first time that any organisation of small scale
industry has developed its site. The website has been developed by the
name of 'www.lubindia.org'. The small industry information centre has been
setup with the financial assistance of Small Industries Development Bank
of India (SIDBI). The site will provide facilities of visual search,
information about new products of various countries, online order
facility, bullion and market updates, currency counters, listing of
financial institutions and banks, members list and other allied
information on industry, circulars of the Govt. Policies of central and
state governments. Regarding small scale industry, listing of central and
state level ministers and officers of the industrial segments and data
bank of job seekers has also been made available on website. The facility
of E-mail has also been provided on the address lubindia@ndf.vsnl.net.in
for faster communication.
THE OBJECTIVES IN A
NUTSHELL:
Laghu Udyog Bharati will render assistance to small scale industries as
follows:
(1) Removal of Inspector Raj &
simplification of Procedures.
(2) Availability & distribution of Power.
(3) Guidance for improving productivity.
(4) Quality & Technological upgradation & modernization.
(5) Better Management.
(6) Sales Promotion & Marketing assistance.
(7) Boost in Exports.
(8) Raw material procurement.
(9) Guidance for revival of the sick industries.
(10) Encouraging Women entrepreneurs.
(11) Setting up Testing and R & D Laboratories and training Centers.
(12) Organize Conferences, Seminars and Workshops.
(13)
Creating
congenial environment for better enterprepreneur, worker and customer
relations.
(14) Making various panels for better representation.
(15) Participation in Trade-Fairs and Exhibitions for better product
exposure.
LUB IN THE SERVICE OF SSI:
Laghu Udyog Bharati can boast of some
successful efforts made like:
(1)
Desicion taken
for the reduction of the investment limit from Rs. Three Crores to Rs.
One Crores in the Small Scale industries following the representation of
LUB to the Hon'ble Prime Minister.
(2)
Pursuing the case for
saving more than one lac SSI units from immenent closure on account of
Supreme Court orders in 1996 for shifting of industries in Delhi from
non-conforming areas.
(3) Increase in Central Excise exemption limit from Rs.30 lacs to Rs. 50
lacs.
(4) Policy for manufacturing of products reserved for SSI to continue.
(5)
Service Tax Exemption:
The central gorvenment had levied a 5% service tax on the tranport
sector. The decision had to be reversed following LUB's legal
intervention.
(6) Helped bring about curbs on Inspector Raj in Rajasthan, U.P. and
Gujarat.
(7) On the basis of Laghu Udyog Bharati report on sick industries, the
Bihar gorvenment agreed to distribute Rs.3200 crore through the bank of
India for sick industries.
(8)
In Maharashtra
collateral securities and stamp duty for registration were exempted, while
giving loans to SSI Units. MSIB agreed to reduce interest rate from 26% to
14% and security deposit period from 3 months to 2 months for units.
Incentive backlog of Rs.25 Crores was released.
(9)
Enlistment of
Laghu UdyogBharati on SSI Board by the Development Commisioner, Small
Scale Industry, Ministry of Industry.
(10)
Nomination of
LUB representative in the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Conference.
INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT:
With the dawn new millennium and the onset
ofopen global economy, the only way to survive for any industry is to
achive overall excellence. In this highly competitive world where the
hallmark is only quality, the role of informatant input for any bussiness
activity. Udyog Bharati intends to develop an exhaustive infra-structure
in this regard and help the small scale industry to make a strong base in
order not to lag behind in competition for lack of information.
We believe that the Small Scale industries have to survive and continue to
play a useful and productive role in the economy and for this we have to
make the SSIs strong and self-relient. The fact that the SSIs have the
potential to play a major role in alleviatng poverty cannot be
understimated. If the SSIs are bourgth back on the road of progress and
are allowed to exploit its vast potential, the poverty of
India's teeming millions coud be turned into prosperity. We firmly believe
that the small scale sector of India will also lead the other nations and
show the path of prosperity to the world in the next millennium, being the
main source of economy and employment generation.
|