Port Blair, Jan 28: The Secretary of Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Vivek ray stressed the need for promoting food processing industry in the islands to solve the unemployment problems effectively. Inaugurating the State level workshop on Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme(PMEGP) at BRAIT Auditorium, Port Blair today, he emphasized that necessary training in food processing has to be imparted to the small scale entrepreneurs under PMEGP as these islands have lot of potentials for developing food processing industry in a large scale. And it will provide employment to a large number of unemployed youths, besides contributing for islands’ economic development, he added.
Highlighting the significance of organic farming in the islands, he said most of the farm products in Andamans are grown without using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He suggested that the organic seasonal fruits available in plenty in different parts of these islands can be processed and marketed for domestic consumption, and even be exported to foreign countriesas there is a growing demand in international market for organic farm products. He also suggested for improving flora culture to fetch attractive income for the PMEGP entrepreneurs.
Expressing concern over lack of motivation among the PMEGP applicants owing to lack of encouragement on part of the banks, he said the banks used to reject the loan proposals of the applicants on the ground that they were not having the experience in their trade. He appealed to the bankers not to reject the applications on the ground of non experience, and instead arrange for proper training to them in their selected trades through the training institutes like RSETI established by the lead bank, State Bank of India.
Also, he suggested for skill up-gradation training to the PMEGP beneficiaries in floriculture, Agro-based industries, fish processing, Tender coconut water processing and innovative tourism projects.
Addressing the participants, the Islands Chief Secretary, Anand Prakash said self employment ventures are the best option to solve the unemployment problems in the islands, in view of the very limited job opportunities in the government sector. He called upon the island youths to make use of the government programmes like PMEGP to start their own self employment ventures.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman and PMEGP District Task Force (DTF) chairman, Rupesh Kumar Thakur said the PMEGP is a simplified scheme with high subsidy to enable to unemployed youths avail the benefits of it in hassle free manner.
The Director of Khadi and Village Industries Commission ( KVIC), K S Rao gave a detailed power point presentation on PMEGP. The secretary of Industries, Onit Panyang and State Director of KVIC, R K Saha also spoke.
A large number of PMEGP beneficiaries and stake holders attended the one day workshop organized by the KVIC in association with Industries department, NABARD, SBI and other concerned agencies. (PIB)
