SHILLONG, MAR 5: The Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) Working Group – I directed the departments of Commerce and Industry and Seri-culture and Weaving to submit their ‘strength, weakness, opportunities and challenges – SWOC’ reports.
The direction was given during the review meeting of the MSPB working group-I held Wednesday.
The meeting chaired by the MSPB chairman Salseng C Marak was attended by the co-chairmen and senior officials from the two departments.
“We have asked the two departments to submit their SWOCs to the working group,” MSPB WG-I co-chairman John F Kharshiing told reporters after the meeting.
Kharshiing informed that based on these reports, the WG will be preparing a brief report and would then submit to the MSPB to make necessary and appropriate recommendations to the state government for its consideration.
Elaborating more on the minutes of the review meeting, Kharshiing said that the WG has also decided to study the new State Industrial Policy-2012 which is in its drafting stage.
“We will also give our suggestions if needed to the draft Industrial Policy which is designed to address many issues such as promotion of industrial related matter, environment and employment generation aspects,” Kharshiing informed.
Kharshiing said the working group also reviewed the achievement and modernization of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) which is hopeful to be commissioned by September this year provided that there is uninterrupted inflow of funds.
Due to the delay in the modernization, the MCCL was not able to meet the demand, Kharshiing informed adding that the cement company also requires to address its peculiar problem with regards to excess of man-power.
Stating that serious concern was also expressed on the unavailability of lands in view of growing number of investors who desires to invest in the state, Kharshiing said that the WG will also come up with necessary recommendation in its report on the matter besides the scarcity of power supply which is an important aspect to expedite power projects in the state.
With regards to the sericulture and weaving department, Kharshiing said that the department informed that it is trying to co-ordinate with the state flagship programme – IBDLP to facilitate marketing of sericulture and weaving produces.
The budget allocation for the department during 2012-13 was only Rs 23.75 crores and it has a population of over 30, 000 weavers. Informing that the department has set up cluster units in Jaintia Hill and Khasi Hills region, Kharshiing said there are over 600 weavers in Saipung cluster and they are performing quite well.
Inspite of the new technologies introduced in this field, Kharshiing rued that the weavers in Saipung however are continuing to use the traditional handloom due to lack of awareness. He informed that the department is also coming up with programme to generate awareness and the proposal is still under process for the consideration by the state government.
Another problem faced by weavers in the state is due to land encroachment, Kharshiing concluded.- By Our Reporter
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