Exhorting the industrialists to play a proactive role in the industrial development of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the state government would soon constitute a state level Advisory Committee of the Industrialists to solicit their whole hearted support and contribution in ushering an era of industrial revolution in state.
Addressing the gathering at the 35th Annual Award function of the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) here today, the Chief Minister said that this Advisory committee would solely consist of representatives of the industry, who would guide and help the government in creating a congenial atmosphere for the industrial growth of the state. Laying thrust on the need for more exchange of ideas between the industry and the government, Mr. Badal said that it would go a long way in regaining the lost sheen of industry in the state. Assuring fulsome support and co-operation to the industrialists, he said that the state government would leave no stone unturned to make Punjab the number one state on the industrial map of the country.
Underlining the need for more efforts by Industry to open skill Training centers in the state, the Chief Minister said that it would help in catering to the need of the industry for getting the skilled labour in the state besides opening new avenues of employment for the unemployed youth. He also said that the industry must realize its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by taking all initiatives the in development of education sector. Mr. Badal assured the industry that the state government would provide matching grants to them besides all possible assistance for opening new schools and skill centers in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was well aware of the fact that the Power was the catalyst of industrial growth in any state due to which concerted efforts have been made the Punjab government to augment the power generation in the state. Mr. Badal said that owing to stupendous efforts of the state government Punjab would become a Power Surplus state by the end of this year. He also said that the world class infra structure, industrial peace, communal harmony and amity besides the pragmatic policies of the state government provides a conducive atmosphere for the industrial development in the state.
The Chief Minister said that due to the step motherly treatment of Centre with the state, Punjab’s industry has got a major setback due to which massive flight of industry has taken place. Mr. Badal said that the freebees given by the Union government certain hill states have given fatal blow to the industry of the state. However he said notwithstanding the continued apathetic attitude of centre towards state’s industrial growth, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has in its recent report rated the state as one of the most preferred investment destinations of the country.Citing several instances of discriminatory attitude of the Union government against the state, the Chief Minister said that he had himself taken up the matter of hiking the relief to the flood victims of state with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister but none of them had paid any heed to provide immediate relief to the needy and distressed people of the state. Likewise he said that the issue pertaining to the construction of scientific silos in the state to preserve the food grains has also been hanging in fire since long despite of the fact that he had himself taken up this issue with the top brass of the Union government.
Slamming the Congress led UPA government for making the life of the countrymen miserable, the Chief Minister said that the faulty policies of the centre has accentuated the woes of common man. He said that the arrogant successive Congress governments at the centre have diluted the federal structure of the country by usurping the powers of the state due to which the state governments have been reduced to dignified Municipalities. Mr. Badal further said that the ever increasing costs of the farming inputs coupled with the non remunerative MSP has ruined the agriculture due to which the farmers were on cross roads.On the occasion while felicitating six key industrialists for the rare achievements, the Chief Minister said that they were the lighthouses who would ever act as a source of inspiration for the coming generations to excel in the field of business.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rajat Aggarwal.On the occasion LMA President Mr. JR Singal, founder of Hero Cycles Mr. OP Munjhal, Chairman of Trident Group Mr. Rajinder Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Hero Motocorp Mr. SK Munjhal, General Secretary of LMA Mr. Kamal Wadhera and several other key industrialists were also present.