Minister for Industries N. Amarnatha Reddy on Tuesday said that empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and women would be more meaningful only when MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) come to rural areas. He reiterated the commitment of the State government to set up MSME parks in all Assembly constituencies and potential mandal headquarters.
Inaugurating the Feminy Enterprises, Andhra Pradesh’s first biodegradable sanitary wear manufacturing unit at a cost of ₹1 crore at Bangarupalem mandal headquarters, the Minister said that the women-friendly industrial unit came up as a vibrant entity to promote rural economy, with focus on women empowerment, in Chittoor district.
“It is a welcome sign that Chittoor district has achieved the number one place in setting up of Standup India units, followed by gradual growth of MSMEs,” he said.
The Minister said that the State proved itself to be the most sought after zone for setting up of mega and MSME industrial units by virtue of its industry-friendly policies. “In Chittoor district alone, we could generate 80,000 jobs during the last four and a half years,” Mr Reddy said.
Jobs to local people
Feminy Enterprises managing director P. Sree Latha said that the main objective of their Standup India unit was to manufacture hygienic and biodegradable sanitary wear. “The equipment is designed by a team of engineers from IIT-Mumbai in association with Saral Designs. In the first phase, 50 families from rural areas of Bangarupalem mandal are provided with jobs. The product will be made available to the target group in rural areas at affordable prices. As part of corporate social responsibility, a part of the profits will be allocated to undertake charity works in the district,” she said.
MLC B.N. Rajasimhulu, Canara Bank senior branch manager (Chittoor) Pattabhiramaiah, District Industries Centre general manager Anil Kumar Reddy, Revenue Divisional Officer (Chittoor) Mallikarjuna, Telugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) chairman David Brainard also spoke.
