Govindas highlights 'Make in Manipur' for Make in India Initiative in Delhi Conference
Source: Hueiyen News Service / MIC
New Delhi, November 04 2015:
Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam stated that the Government of Manipur is making efforts to showcase its potential under 'Make in Manipur' for Make in India initiative of the Government of India.
Participating at the Annual Textile Conference held on Wednesday at India Habitat Centre with Union Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), SK Gangwar in the chair, Govindas Konthoujam stated that the economy of Manipur was primarily based on agriculture, horticulture, forestry, handloom, handicrafts, sericulture, animal husbandry etc.
He said, "We are setting up Livelihood Business Incubators (LBI) and Technology Business Incubators (TBI) in all the 9 Districts of Manipur.
In addition, we are planning to set up Rural Industry Service Centres (RISC) in each of 61 Blocks in Manipur.
In these LBI, TBI and RISC we are planning to train and upgrade the skills of our educated unemployed youth for taking up entrepreneurial activities under MUDRA, PMEGP, Food Processing Fund of NABARD, Credit Guarantee Fund Trust Scheme of MSME sector, Apparel & garment making, power loom, post cocoon activities.
After making forward & backward linkages we will arrange suitable financing so that they can take up micro and small enterprises in order to earn additional income of minimum Rs.60,000 per annum.
Since we have the highest density of Handloom weavers, the income generation potential through the sustained efforts in handloom, handicrafts and sericulture is huge in Manipur" .
He informed that as advised by the Union Secretary of Textiles on March 24 last, the State Government submitted proposals for 10 block level handloom clusters, 10 handicrafts clusters and sericulture cluster proposals under North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) to the agencies under Ministry of Textiles.
He urged the Union Minister, Textiles to announce the sanctions of those projects to give a boost to "Make in Manipur" which was part of Make in India initiative of Government of India.
The minister recalled that when the Union Minister and the Secretary of Textiles had visited Manipur on March 23 this year in Manipur, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had outlined the vision of State Government of Manipur that only additional employment generation on a mass scale would lead to the path of peace and prosperity in Manipur.
Based on his vision, the Chief Minister had advised his officials to devise a road map for realising the same.
The State Cabinet of Manipur in its meeting held last week approved the proposal for launching the State Mission of 'Make in Manipur initiative for Employment Generation' in the Sangai Festival in Manipur to be held in the last week of November 2015 .
The Government of Manipur has extended invitation to the Union Minister of Textiles and all the State Ministers of Textiles from different States to attend the launch of the mission and also enjoy State hospitality during Sangai Festival, an annual international festival showcasing 'Make in Manipur Exhibition', tourism potential and arts & culture of Manipur.
Govindas Konthoujam expressed gratitude to the Centre for sanction of Rs.13.17 crore for power loom and Rs.235.76 lakh for four block level handloom clusters under NHDP; Rs 149.76 crore for Manipur Sericulture Project in four valley districts and Rs 30.39 crore under Integrated Sericulture Development Project for Eri & Mulberry in Hill District in Manipur.
He informed that skill development under Integrated Skill Development Scheme was in progress observing all the formalities and norms of Biometric attendance, online enrolment, installation of webcam, laptop, solar light, etc.
A target of 7000 trainees was to complete within March next year.
The minister also said that the State Government was implementing 51 Cluster Development Projects under NERTPS with a total sanctioned amount of Rs.30.01 crore.
However, the 2nd instalment claimed in February, 2015 was not released for want of "mid-term evaluation and impact of scheme".
The State Government proposed the Centre for assigning an independent agency to conduct the same.
Govindas informed the conference that the State government introduced the Trio Handlooms Business Meet which was a meet for Investors-Weavers-Consumers.
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