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The department of Industry has been playing a pivotal role in
implementing various developmental schemes and solving
unemployment problems to some extent by providing employment and
extending necessary assistance for self employment through its
various undertaking and agencies. Though the state has limited
natural resources and skilled manpower and the topographical
location of the state also hampers the establishment of large
industrial unit. Keeping in view of facts, there is need for
formulation of effective industrial policy with long term solution
of this phenomenal problem.
However, the department of Industry through its
undertaking and agencies has shouldered the responsibilities of
removing this problem and also envisages a better tomorrow for its
people. Some of the biggest achievements of the department during
the recent year are summed up as follows: -
1. Revival of Government Food Preservation
Factory (GFPF):
One of the biggest achievements of the department is the revival
of GFPF. The industrial unit, which was handed over to one private
party, was closed due to mismanagement rendering its employees
jobless. However, the government realized its importance and took
over the management of units and at present the factory is doing
very well. Its products are not only famous but have very high
market demands, at present its products available in the markets
are, fruit juice, orange squash, passion fruit squash, tomato
ketchup, tomato puree, orange marmalade, mixed fruit jam,
synthetic vinegar, mango pickle etc. with brand name of Sikkim
Supreme. It has also decided to launch new products like Dalley
chilies pickles, Dalley chilies with bamboo shoot pickles, mixed
pickles, pine apple squash, orange juice in 800 ml cans etc., by
February 2001. In view of its demand and better quality products,
the government has plan for further expansion and modernization of
plant and machinery and in such event there is ample scope for
further employment of manpower.
2. Sikkim Jewels Limited:
Sikkim Jewels Limited was established in the year 1972 to cater
the demand of Watch jewels and Cup jewels, initially with the
capacity of 2.00 lakhs of Cup jewel and 3.00 lakhs of watch jewels
per month.. Now its capacity has increased to 3.00 lakhs of Cup
jewels and 32.00 lakhs of watch jewels per month. The company has
also consolidated its position in the market for Watch jewels, Cup
Jewels and Rotors Magnets.
The Company has sold jewels worth Rs 1 ,54, 86, 000 from April
2000 till December 2000, against the total sale of Rs 131 lakhs
during 1999-2000. The Company has orders worth Rs. 130 lakhs in
hand to be dispatched by December 2001. It has also received
orders for 120 lakhs nos. of jewels worth Rs 123 lakhs for next
year i.e., for 2001 from foreign clients which is net increase of
400% in export market and in domestic market also it has orders in
hand worth Rs 72.00 lakhs. 3. SITCO:
The Sikkim Time Corporation was established during 1976 with
assembly of Mechanical watches for HMT .The company has expanded
and diversified its business into manufacture of mechanical watch
crown, semiconductors and manufacture of digital & analog watches
over the years. Its products with brand name “SITCO” has very good
market demand for its watches. As of now the company has employed
318 employees in the factory. 4. Speaker
Manufacturing Unit:
Apart from its usual business of watch making SITCO has reached
another milestone with the foundation stone laying of its Speaker
Manufacture Project by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri
Pawan Chamling on 13th Dec. 2000. The unit will produce 10,000
speakers per day for both B/W and colour TVs. Speaker manufacture,
being a labour intensive one is ideally suited for a place like
Sikkim. The project cost (excluding working capital) is Rs. 300.00
lakhs and the annual sales realization (at full capacity) will be
Rs. 516.00 lakhs. The unit will give employment to 92 local people
at full working capacity.
5. Sikkim Precision Industries Ltd:
The Sikkim Precision Industries Ltd. (SPIL), Namchi, was first
conceived during March 1998, when the Hon’ble Chief Minister
desired that a project be identified and established at Namchi for
the industrial development of South & West Sikkim and for
providing gainful employment to the people of these districts.
Consequently a high tech. project suitable for Sikkim was
identified and it was decided to establish the new Public Sector
Company to undertake the project. Thus the Sikkim Precision
Industries Ltd. (SPIL) was set up with MD, SITCO being appointed
as its Managing Director and given the overall task of
implementing the project. Thereafter the land for the project site
was acquired at Gurpisey, Namchi and M/s Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS) appointed for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The DPR was submitted by TCS in Nov ’98. The
foundation stone for the project was laid by the Hon’ble Chief
Minister of Sikkim Shri Pawan Chamling on 4.12.1998.The Project
site was relocated to Boomtar in March, 2000 since it was found
that infrastructure development costs will be too high given the
different terrain of the site Gurpisey. The unit specializes in
the production of ‘Power Device’ in collaboration with M/s Bharat
Electronic Ltd. of Bangalore. The civil construction of the
project was started at the new site from July 2000 after the Board
of Directors of the Company directed the construction be
undertaken directly by the Company for faster and cost effective
execution. At present the site leveling works have been completed
and the construction of the main factory building is underway.
6. Sikkim Temi Tea :
Sikkim Temi Tea located at Temi-Tarku, South Sikkim, is situated
between the elevation range of 4800 ft. to 6000 ft., covering an
area of 173 hectors. It is famous for its quality products, which
is known not only in India but also in abroad. The unit is major
source of employment for the local people and also one of the
important revenue earner for the government. Its annual turnover
during the year has exceeded 100 MT. It has a/so added Rs. 235
lakhs in the state exchequer as revenue and has set the target of
Rs. 240 lakhs as total earning for this financial year i.e. for
2000-01.
Apart from providing employment and generating revenue, it is
providing assistance to private tea growers of the state for
establishing tea gardens. Under this Program approximate 6 lac tea
sapling has been already distributed free of cost to various tea
growers’ society and private parties. Under the assistance of Temi
Tea Board; tea growers society like Sang-Martam Tea Growers’
Cooperative Society has started flourishing which with further
generate additional income as well as employment opportunities to
the local people of that areas. 7.
Consultancy Services:
The department of Industry also provides Consultancy Services to
the aspiring Industrialist/entrepreneur for setting up own unit
through Small Industries Service Institute (SISI) Government of
India, Tadong and Sikkim Consultancy Services (SICON), Gangtok..
It has set up ‘SICON’ or Sikkim Consultancy Services at District
Industries Centre (East & North) at Gangtok where free consultancy
services are provided to unemployed youth for setting up their own
unit and establishment for providing ‘self-employment’ and
employment to other unemployed. 8. Prime
Minister Rojgar Yojana:
Rural Artisan and Small Scale Entrepreneur have been continuously
trained by the Department within four districts in collaboration
with SISI, SICON, Nationalized Banks, SIDBI, etc. Under PMRY
Scheme altogether 567 numbers of beneficiaries were provided
financial assistance during the last six years.
9. Small Scale Industries Registration:
During the last six years the department has granted 238
Provisional Registration and 96 Permanent Registration Certificate
to Small Scale Industries and Tiny Industries. The department of
Industry is putting every effort to implement the policy of
government for the betterment of its people. It is also striving
hard to figure Sikkim in the industrial map of country.
10. SIDICO:
Sikkim Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Ltd. (SIDICO)
set up in the year 1977 is a state level principal financial
institution engaged in promotion, financing and development of
industries in tiny, cottage, Hotels, Small and medium sector in
the State of Sikkim. Besides, the corporation has also been
providing soft loan/seed capital assistance and participating in
the share capital in its selective venture projects.
Financial assistance is made available by the corporation for
fixed assets such as land; building, land and machinery etc., with
an ultimate objective of setting up of industries in the State.
Since the corporation was facing financial
crises, during the year 1995-96, the corporation was restructured
and all the liabilities on account of refinance availed from IDBI/SIDBI
were settled. During the last five years ( i.e.) from 1995-96 to
1999-2000, the corporation sanctioned loan amounting to &.10.35
crores to 2147 beneficiaries and the recovery for the same period
was &.12.66 crores which itself was record.
11. DIRECTORATE OF HANDICRAFTS & HANDLOOM (DHH):
Progress made during the last six years in the Handicrafts &
Handloom Sector. Seven new Training Centers were opened in 1919
where training in various crafts are imparted. The rate of stipend
for the trainees has also been increased from Rs. 200/-p.m. to Rs.
300/-p.m., and Rs. 250/-p.m. to Rs. 350/-p.m.
A new Block Printing Section was started and in house printing of
various multicraft items is carried out. Infrastructure
development by way of construction of a three storeyed building at
Gangtok, a two storeyed building at Lindong in Dzongu, a four
storeyed.-building at Namchi. Further, a three storeyed building
was purchased from HUDCO at Melli.
NEW DISTRICT HANDICRAFTS & HANDLOOM CENTRE,
NAMCHI
The development of these permanent infrastructure has created
enough working space for further development and growth, as well
as created a conducive working environment.
Modernisation of looms was carried out by purchase of cart iron
looms which has resulted into production of better quality
carpets.
Introduced ‘Hire Purchase Scheme’ for issue of Handicrafts &
Handloom items to the State Government Employees on monthly
instalment basis. This scheme has been a great success and has
resulted into high sales revenue.
Craft Fairs are organised at Gangtok as yearly feature and have
been participating at various fairs in the State as well as at the
National Level. GANGTOK CRAFT FAIR -1999
Because of the keen interest shown by the Government and the
thrust given in the development of the Handicrafts and Handloom
Sector, increase in Sales revenue from Rs. 35.35 Lacs in 1996 to
Rs. 60.00 lacs in the current financial year 2000-2001 is
expected.
ONGOING SCHEMES AND FUTURE PROGRAMS:
1. Border Area Development Project.
Out of Rs. 1.00 Lakhs earmarked for this project the Planning &
Development.
Department released 6 lakhs in advance. The necessary
infrastructure for holding the vocational training’s for 6 months
has been taken care of and the training are proposed as under.
West: Karmatar Cutting & Tailoring Training to
be started from 1.6.2001
Sopaka Cutting & Tailoring Training Tentative date of
comment 15.6.2001
East: Dalapchand: Knitting training Tentative
date of comment 10.6.2001. 2. Training to Rural
Artisans:
6 (Six) months condensed cause of Cane & Bamboo Craft will be
starting at Chakung Medagoan, West Sikkim from 16.06.2001. A total
of 15 participants are expected to undergo the said training and a
similar training is envisaged at Naga, North Sikkim.
3. Candle making Training:
The Department has sent 15
entrepreneurs to Nainital (H.P.) for candle manufacturing training
on 8.5.2001 for 3 weeks training.
4. Study tour for small tea growers:
A group of 12 farmers will proceed to
Coonoor, South India on 9.6.2001 to participate in 12 days
workshop tea cultivation.
5. Industrial Growth Centre:
An area about 40 acres between Melli and Jorethang in South
Sikkim has been identified for Industrial Growth Centre. However
due to some unforeseen problem the matter was kept on the hold and
the department intends to acquire the land as soon on the problems
is sorted out.
However, an alternative land measuring about 17.7580 hectare at
Baigunay in West Sikkim is also being considered.
6. Entrepreneurship Motivation Program
In order to being awareness to the
unemployed youth and to make them prepared to take up industrial
activities as their profession the Department organized motivation
programs on the following places during the month of January 2001.
South District: Namchi & Ravangla
West District : Gyalshing & Soreng
East: Pakyong and Rhenock
North : Mangan
The total number of participants in each programe numbering over
100.
7. Entrepreneurship Development Program:
Fifteen(15) days cause in E.D.P. was organized at
Jorethang, South Sikkim that concluded on 17.5.2001.
The department intends to start Similar programmes at Gyalzing,
Sikkim and at Mangan in North Sikkim.
8. Government of Sikkim has vide Notification
No. 18/LD/2000 dated 6. 7.2000 published,The Sikkim Industrial
Promotion and Incentive Act 2000 (Act No. 18 of 2000
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