Small units get a push from govt

KARNAL: The Union government has launched an integrated infrastructural development scheme (IIDS) to accelerate the growth of small-scale industries. K S Ludu, additional development commissioner of the Union commerce & industry ministry, told ET that “IIDS entails a central government grant up to Rs 2 crore and soft loan by IDBI up to Rs 3 crore for each such project.
He said a proposal is under consideration of the ministry to set one or more small industries service institute similar to the one set up by the ministry in Okhla (Delhi). The scope of activities of these institutes has been widened to assist small entrepreneurs to update production, marketing and after-sales service with an added stress on improving quality and remaining cost-effective.
Mr Ludu said the commerce & industry ministry already has a scheme to assist SSIs to upgrade their product to qualify as ancillaries of mother units. There is tremendous scope of such operations in Haryana which boasts world-class industrial infastructure, attracting Indian and foreign giants, particularly in automobiles, pharmaceutical and food processing sectors.