PUNE, Feb 8: It promised to be a dull routine meeting between industry representatives and government officials at the local industry chamber on a lazy Saturday morning in Pune. Instead ,it turned out to be a scintillating session with Ashok Parthasarathy, secretary, SSI, giving a dressing down to industrialists in the small sector and and funding institutions.Parthasarathy vented spleen at the SSIs for their constant moaning and complaining against the government while never ever giving credit to the government whenever it was due. He cited success stories from among those present at the meeting who had become succesful entrepreneurs thanks to generous government grants. These contributions were never recognised or acknowledged by the entrepreneurs while they were quick to attack the government, he pointed out to SSI members who said they wanted the government off their backs.
Parthasarathy said that it was ironical that the industry that was ardently supporting liberalisation was now running to thegovernment asking for policies which would provide protection to their sector.
An annoyed Parthasarathy also ticked off the officials heading banking and financial institutions such as SBI, Sidbi, Nabard and ECGC for not even bothering to attend the meeting. The half-day meet was being held by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) to discuss `prospects and problems related to SSIs'. "This was a clear indication of the priority these institutions were giving small and medium industries," Parthasarthy said.
The provocation for Parthasarathy's outburst was the scathing attack on the government by SSIs earlier. Avinash Kulkarni, Pravin Dhole and GA Sathe of MCCI's SSI wing and CH Mirani and PD Patodia of Ficci western region had complained about unavailability of inadequate finance, cumbersome excise procedures and labour laws being the stumbling blocks to the progress of SSIs. Parthasarathy told the participants to clean their stables first before pointing their finger at the government."Restructuring the SSI sector is a major area of reform. More than 95 per cent of the SSI units are proprietory concerns and lack transparency in their operations," Parthasarthy added. He was of the view that it is necessary to convert existing SSIs into private limited companies.
Industry using high technology in sectors such as computer software, information technology and biotechnology are going to be the future industries specially meant for small and medium enterprises, he said. "We should not miss the opportunity of converting the highly skilled manpower into high-class technocrat entrepreneurs capable of producing high-value items with competitive advantages vis-a-vis the small and medium enterprises in advanced countries."
The government was committed to encourage SSI associations to set up technology and training centres and there was a standing offer to them for grants for this purpose. Instead of putting the onus on the government, it was time industrialsts and industry associations got down todoing some work and sweating it out to build national companies on a global scale.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
