(a) whether the Government propose to change the nomenclature of the above Ministry;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether there has been increase in the number of small scale industries in urban areas whereas this number has gone down in the rural areas;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to change this situation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES, AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING, DEPARTMENT OF PENSIONS AND PENSIONERS WELFARE OF THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND SPACE (SHRIMATI VASUNDHARA RAJE)
(a) & (b): The Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC), in its report on the Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries has recommended that the coverage of the small sector include the fast expanding service sector which would be in line with the approach adopted in most countries. The ERC has further recommended that Governmental support should be provided to tiny, small and medium establishments on a graded scale and there should be an opportunity for tiny units to graduate to small establishments and small establishments to medium establishments. In this context, the ERC has recommended that it would be appropriate to rename the Ministry as Ministry of Small & Medium Establishments. The Government is yet to take a final view on the matter.
(c): As per the information available from the Second All India Census in 1987-88 and the Sample Survey of 1994-95, the distribution of small scale industrial units in urban and rural areas in terms of percentage in 1994-95 was almost the same as they were in 1987-88.
(d) & (e): Do not arise.