Small- and medium-scale industrialists in the city are peeved that many measures announced by the government have remained on paper despite being included in the industrial policies.
In addition, they have a grouse against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Industries portfolio, for his “disregard” of them. Though the Chief Minister hails from the city, he is yet to convene a meeting of local entrepreneurs representing micro, small and medium industries of the region.
“It has been nearly two years since Mr. Siddaramaiah became the Chief Minister and yet he has no time for us nor has he bothered to listen to our grievances,” said Suresh Kumar Jain of the Mysore Industries Association. Though Mr. Siddaramaiah was to have laid the foundation stone for an export centre in Mysuru in June last year, he did not turn up. There are region-specific demands, which have been pending since many years and since the Chief Minister holds the Industries portfolio, the local entrepreneurs reposed faith in him to get the issues resolved. “But our hopes have been dashed,” said Mr. Jain.
A few members of the Mysore Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Hebbal Industries Association said that the manufacturing sector, and micro, small and medium industries seemed to have no draw for the government which, they said, was content wooing the IT sector.
Some of the region-specific demands which can shore up the manufacturing sector in Mysuru include the notification of the Industrial Township Authority, a directive to government bodies to procure and purchase items from local SSIs at a preferential price rate (which will be a few per cent higher than the regular rate) so as to give a boost.
“The preferential price policy and purchase policy was included in the industrial policy 2009–14 unveiled five years ago. But, it was not implemented as a result of which local entrepreneurs never benefited from the policy measure,” said Mr. Jain.
Development of industrial corridor, subsidy and reservation for Scheduled Class and Scheduled Tribes in land allotment, and adoption of PPP model for industrial area development are other “policy measures”, which have remained on paper as there are no Government Orders or directives on implementation.
