Industrial Policy : West Bengal
Objectives
The Government of West Bengal has formulated a liberal and investor friendly industrial policy to change the industrial scenario in the state. The West Bengal Government's own proposals for an alternative economic policy call for a statement of policy by the Government of West Bengal on the vital issues of industrial development, rehabilitation of sick units and generation of employment opportunities and protection of the legitimate interest of the labour.
Salient Features
The following are the salient features of the State Government's policy on industrial promotion and economic development: -
1. The State Government welcomes foreign technology and investment, as may be appropriate, or mutually advantageous.
2. While the State Government considers the Government and Public Sector as an important vehicle for ensuring social justice and balance growth, it recognizes the importance and key role of the Private Sector in providing accelerated growth.
In major industries like power, the State Government considers the role of the Public Sector as critical for containing energy prices. However, in the context of the changes in the policies of the Government of India, the need for meeting the increasing demand for power and the constraints on budgetary resources, the State Government would also welcome private sector investment in power generation.
3. Along with the public and Private sectors, the State Government looks upon the joint and assisted sectors as effective instruments for mobilising necessary resources and expertise in important areas of economic activity.
4. Improvement and up-gradation of industrial infrastructure is indispensable for accelerated growth of industries. In the field of power, the State is already self-sufficient with a generation capacity of over 3000 MW. It has also been planned to provide for an additional capacity of 5000 MW in the public, joint and private sectors over the next 10 years.
Others thrust areas are improvement in roads, communications and developments of Growth Centres. These programmes would, no doubt, require massive investments and it is therefore, proposed to undertake projects for development of industrial infrastructure through the Government or through the private and joint sectors, wherever feasible.
5. Government has already taken the initiative in substantially improving the social infrastructure facilities like development of Satellite Township, housing, health, education, water-supply, hotels, etc. Apart from promoting schools and colleges of appropriate standards, a major thrust has been given to technical education and training through the Polytechnics and ITIs.
In the sphere of health, apart from the various measures of improvement in the ongoing activities relating to medical care, health and family planning, establishment of specialised hospitals of high standards in the private joint sector will continue to be encouraged. Improvement and expansion of hospital facilities in and around Calcutta and the Growth Centres through private and joint sector efforts is being explored.
6. In the case of sick Central Public Sector Undertakings which employ a large number of people and also support a number of ancillary SSI units, while the State Government is helping the management and Unions to evolve viable rehabilitation packages for consideration of BIFR, it is essential that the Government of India commits adequate funds for acceptance of the rehabilitation package by BIFR and for subsequent implementation.
The response of the Government of India has at best been lukewarm so far. The State Government will continue its efforts with the Government of India to see that appropriate strategies are evolved to ensure healthy revival of those units. Similarly, in the case of the sick State public sector undertakings under the State Government, efforts will be made to rehabilitate them appropriately.
7. In the case of sick/closed units in the Private Sector, the policy of the State Government is to see that such units are reopened and rehabilitated appropriately at the earliest either through the existing management or through induction of new promoters and wherever necessary with appropriate sacrifices on the part of all concerned including the State government, financial institutions and labour. The main objective is to ensure that the rehabilitation package is implemented to ensure viable functioning of the units.
8. In the field of industrial relations, the State Government has over the years evolved a system of tripartite negotiations and understanding both at the unit and industry level and such long-term agreements have been successfully implemented in the industries like engineering, jute, tea, textiles, etc.
It is the considered view of the State Government that the workers/units have to be informed of the problems and prospects of the concerned industrial units and there should be a constant dialogue between the management and the labour to ensure harmonious industrial relations. In the face fierce competition, industry is required to maintain efficiency, standards and quality.
It is also necessary for the existing units to modernise to make its products competitive. The thrust of our efforts through the tripartite machinery has been to see that industry adopts appropriate transparent management policies to ensure competitive production.
It is necessary for the management to ensure that the statutory obligations are complied with and all the legitimate interests of the workmen looked after. It is necessary for the workers to study the industry in which they are engaged and take interest in production and productivity whilst protecting their rights and privileges.
Thrust areas for industrial growth
* Petrochemicals and Downstream Industries
* Electronics & Information Technology
* Iron and Steel, Metallurgical & Engineering
* Textiles
* Leather and Leather Products
* Food Processing, Edible Oil, Vegetable Processing and Aquaculture
* Medical Plants, Rubber, Palm Oil and Tea
* Manufacture of Basic Drugs, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
* Optimal Utilisation of Minerals and Development of Mine-based industries
* Gems and jewellery
* Promotion of Tourism and tourism related activities