(a) whether the Government have taken a policy decision for promoting Small Scale and Cottage Industries;
(b) if so, whether these industries are proposed to be set up in rural areas only;
(c) if so, whether the State Governments have been issued any guidelines in this regard;
(d) whether any assessment has been made in regard to promoting Small Scale and Cottage Industries in the Ninth Plan; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES AND AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES
(SMT. VASUNDHARA RAJE)
(a), (b) & (c): Policy measures already exist for promoting Small Scale and Cottage ndustries in the country, which were announced by the Government on 6th August, 1991. The Government continues to lay emphasis on meeting the concern of the small scale and cottage industries. However, special thrust is given for rural areas through schemes like Integrated Infrastructure Development (IID) Centres, Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) and National Programme on Rural Industrialization (NPRI). All these schemes are implemented through the State Governments as per approved parameters.
(d) & (e): As per the assessment (Provisional) of performance of the small scale sector during 9th Plan up to 1998-99, the Number of Units has gone up to 31.21 lakhs, Production up to Rs. 5,27,515 Crores on current prices, Employment to 171.58 lakhs and the Exports to Rs. 48,979.00 Crores at current prices, compared to 28.57 lakhs units, Rs. 4,12,636 Crores of Production, 160 lakhs of Employment and Rs. 39,249 Crores of Exports as at the end of the VIII Plan period (1996-97).