(a): whether the small scale sector has registered a decline during the first quarter of the current year;
(b): if so, the reasons therefor;
(c): the efforts made by the Government to strengthen the small scale sector; and
(d): the extent of success achieved so far?
MINISTER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES & AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES ( SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD )
(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY OF PART (a)TO(d) IN RESPECT OF
THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 440 FOR ANSWER ON 25/8/2004.
(a)&(b): As there is time lag of six to nine months in the
availability of data on Small Scale Industries, the estimated rate
of growth registered during the first quarter of the current
financial year i.e. 2004-05 is not available. However, there has
been increase in the growth rate in the first three quarters of
2003-04 (April-December, 2003) as compared to the growth rate
achieved in the same quarters of the previous year i.e. 2002-03.
The estimated rate of growth for the first three quarters of 2003-
04 is 7.57 percent as against 7.38 percent for the same quarters
of 2002-03.
(c)&(d): While development of SSIs is primarily the responsibility
of the State/UT governments, the Central Government has taken
several steps for promoting and strengthening of SSI Sector by
implementing various schemes such as Integrated Infrastructure
Development, technology upgradation, credit support, marketing and
entrepreneurial development etc. In addition, a Comprehensive
Policy Package was announced on 30th August, 2000 for the
promotion and development of Small Scale Sector to enhance its
competitiveness, both domestically and globally. The policy
package consists of enhanced fiscal and credit supports, better
infrastructure and marketing facilities and incentives for
technology upgradation.
Because of these efforts, the SSI Sector has demonstrated the
resilience to withstand the competition and it has recorded a rate
of growth, which is higher than the overall industrial growth.