The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has rated West Bengal as the highest employment generating state in the small and medium enterprises sector in the country. The report suggests that around 43,000 jobs were created in the state between April 2011 and February 2012.
“We laid emphasis on job creation in village industry, which includes Khadi and textiles, sericulture, handicrafts and agro-based industry,” said Manas Bhunia, West Bengal Small & Micro Industries and Textile Minister. This has been achieved through the geographical cluster approach.
Against the targeted 17 clusters the department created 37 clusters over the past one year, and 51 more clusters development projects are in the pipeline.
The most challenging task according to the minister was to revive the dying power loom sector in the state. “We invited investors to explore all possibilities for the setting up of power looms that would boost the garment and hosiery sector in the state,” he added. The government has initiated a loan waiver scheme for the handloom sector.
Despite West Bengal having one of the lowest credit-deposit ratios in the country, several national and private banks have come forward to give loans for the setting up of small and medium enterprises in the state.
The government has started a Rs 310 crore ‘Natural fiber mission’ project in the backward regions of the state. Of this Rs 50 crore will be spent on a textile hub project at Gangarampur in South Dinajpur district, Rs 38 crore project on a silk park in Malda district, and Rs 48 crore will be invested in East and West Midnapur districts on mat grass projects. The Khadi sector is to get Rs 42 crore.
“We have given special focus to sustainable socio-economic development in the backward region of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapur and Birbhum district by providing bank loans to artisans,” says Bhunia.
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The department is also planning to revive the ailing ‘Tantuja’ and ‘Manjusha’, the West Bengal government’s two handloom and handicraft outlets. “We are trying to revive both ‘Tantuja’ and ‘Manjusha’ with a complete new look and modern interior décor,” said Bhunia.
Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta has been roped in as the brand ambassador of the traditional ‘tant’ sarees along with fashion designer Agnimitra Paul, who has been asked to assist in the modernization of Tantuja outlets in Kolkata.
However, the ministry has decided to bring the handloom, handicraft, silk and khadi sectors under one umbrella called ‘Bencraft’.
“We have held discussions with the Government of India’s oil corporations and have been promised spaces in the petrol pumps for opening outlets of Bencraft,” says Bhunia. “We have already spotted five petrol pumps in Kolkata and all district headquarters, tourist spots in the state and one outlet in Delhi,” he added.