Small Scale Industrialists and Traders Association alleges various types of “mafia” emerging in Punjab

Ludhiana, September 5, 2013: It is the small scale industries which have the potentiality to eradicate unemployment and poverty from the state of Punjab so it should be facilitated to flourish but the industrial policy and practice of Punjab Government is contrary to this path of development and various types of “mafia” are emerging in this state of hard working peoples and an environment of criminalisation is taking place in the society.
This has been stated by Ramesh Rattan, Chairman of Small Scale Industrialists and Traders Association in its annual general body meeting held here.
It was demanded in the meeting that small scale industries should be provided with fully developed industrial areas at subsidised rate because new land acquisition law has made land so costlier that no new entrepreneur will be able to start his business.
Gurwant Singh, General Secretary of the association said they are fighting against the repercussions of Ludhiana Master Plan since it was drafted. He said that they have brought the problems of Shimlapuri, New Janta Nagar and adjoining areas of declaring these as residential areas in notice of all the concerned authorities and department. Though principally agreeing to convert the status of these areas from residential to Industrial Mix Zone nothing has been done in past five years. He said that small entrepreneur of these areas are feeling anguished with the delaying tactics of local authorities and politically empowered lobby.
The various speakers demanded that in view of role of small scale industry to generate employment and its contribution to GDP and foreign trade it should be protected on the pattern of agriculture by providing raw material, power, and transportation and loans on subsidised and fixed annual rates and they should also be helped in marketing of their products in international markets through government agencies.
On this occasion, Dr. Pawan Garg has given a special presentation regarding global economic recession in contest with saving like insurance and other unit link plans to safe guard their future.
Other speakers who have contributed in the deliberations include Manmohan Singh, Gurmeet Singh Channi, Gurmukh Singh Mankoo, Jasvir Singh Bhullar, Avtar Sigh, Sultan Singh Sodhi and Harpal Singh.
The meeting has unanimously resolved to fight for their just cause of saving the industries on all platforms. They will take the issue with the concerned authorities, if needed, will move to the court or may use their democratic and constitutional right to protest in various forms.