Bhubaneswar, Aug 4 (KNN) The Odisha government has decided to set up rural industrial parks in 80 blocks to provide working space with basic infrastructure to women entrepreneurs on processing and value addition of their products.

Principal Secretary of Panchayatiraj department Sushil Kumar Lohani said that rural industrial park is a novel concept under which land and resources will be converged to support the producers’ groups and transform them into small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“The park will be set up in 35 blocks in the first phase and 45 in the second phase. It will have infrastructure like warehouses, processing plants and packaging facilities to support the production and marketing of products. The government is keen on developing these parks at the earliest as the one set up at Borigumma has been successful,” he said.

As per reports, initially, units on dal processing, oil extraction, construction of bricks and pavers, solar panel assemble, beauty parlour, food processing, dairy and poultry products, floriculture and plant nursery besides high value crop under integrated farming cluster will be promoted.

These products will have to pass quality parameters as per the ORMAS specifications.

Secretary of Mission Shakti department Sujata R Karthikeyan said “With an integrated approach the government wants to provide livelihood activities and turn job seekers into job creators with an end-to-end solution. The rural park will be a catalyst in converting the SHGs into SMEs.”  (KNN Bureau)