HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Feb 23: “The central government was ready to provide all kinds of support to set up a food processing project in the Barak Valley. But no one in the valley came forward to take this opportunity,” stated MP Rajdeep Roy while inaugurating an exhibition cum training program of MSME Conclave, UDYAM, 2023 here on Wednesday.
MP Roy said that this program has been undertaken to encourage local small and medium sized enterprises.
MP Roy appealed to the youth to come forward in developing initiatives instead of expecting a job. In the context of the matter, Dr Roy said that he also brought up the issue of selling pineapples in Markulin area of Lakhipur in Dubai market and when inquired, he found that a businessman from Bangalore brought pineapples from the farmers at the rate of Rs 19 per kg and sold it to a Dubai businessman for Rs 180. MP Roy also mentioned that pineapples are priced Rs 300 in Dubai, but the farmers of Markulin only get Rs 19.
The MP stated that he approached the concerned Union minister and talked about setting up a food processing unit in Barak Valley so that the farmers here can get more money for their produce. On his request, the minister agreed to grant loans to the sub-city for building such units. He spoke to several people in the valley to take this opportunity. The MP also said that he is also a member of the committee formed by the central government to promote small and medium sized industries.
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Speaking on the occasion, Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty said, “The present state government is working towards development in every field. Such exhibitions and training are being arranged in different areas of the state so that small and medium enterprises can benefit in the coming days.”
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of self-reliant India, he said, responding to this call, the youth should come forward to take the initiatives. He also called on the local producers to focus on the market demand for overall production.
Speaking at the event, Cachar deputy commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha also urged the local small and medium enterprises for production keeping in mind the market demand.
Earlier, in his welcome address, additional director of Industry, Commerce and Public Enterprises department, Ranjan kumar Bhattacharjee said, “This exhibition and training has been organised to develop the path of local enterprises. Exhibitions and training are being organised periodically in different districts of the state. This arrangement has been made in Silchar for three districts of Barak valley. Various organisations have joined it with their own products from Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Altogether there are 84 stalls in the exhibition. Besides the exhibition, there are also seminars and training sessions.”
Amongst others, GM of District Industry and Commerce Center (DICC), Cachar, S Dongle; general managers of DICC Karimganj and Hailakandi – Salem Raja Mondal and Sushant Naik; head of department of Agriculture Engineering, Assam University, Arjita Tiwari; senior scientist of KVK Karimganj, Silchar, P Chowdhury were present at the inauguration ceremony. The program was also attended by the Silchar Development Authority chairman Manjul Dev and district development commissioner Rajeev Roy and others.
