An industrial cluster for women entrepreneurs is expected to soon come up on 50 acres of land in Thandavapura Industrial Area or Thandya in Nanjangud taluk, on the outskirts of Mysuru.
The park will be a cluster of 50 to 100 industrial sheds. The Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Commerce and Industries, Ratna Prabha, inspected the proposed site last week. Suresh Kumar Jain, general secretary of the Mysore District Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ Association, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would soon lay the foundation stone for the cluster.
With each shed expected to be set up over 5,000-20,000 sq.ft, Mr. Jain said the hope is to provide a lot of job opportunities, especially to women. “If readymade garment industries come up, women will be given preference,” he said.
He added that women borrowing up to Rs. 50 lakh loan would be entitled to an interest rate of just four per cent.
Meanwhile, Ms. Ratna Prabha also inspected the proposed sites for establishing an industrial cluster for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) on 60 acres of land and for setting up a Pharma Park on 200 acres in Thandya.
KIADB in charge
The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) will be developing the industrial clusters for women and SC/STs, besides the Pharma Park, under the Centre’s Cluster Development Plan.
“The revenue lands are expected to be handed over to KIADB soon to launch the works,” Mr. Jain said.
He said out of the 30 industrial clusters to be developed in the State under this year’s budget, two would come up in Mysuru.
Mr. Jain also said Ms. Ratna Prabha has directed the special land acquisition officer of KIADB, Rajesh, and the joint director of the District Industries’ Centre, Ramakrishne Gowda, to ensure that the children of the farmers whose lands are acquired secure a job at the industries set up. She has also directed the officials to ensure that the children receive training to develop the necessary skills.
