Setting up industry is very much within the realm of the State Govt and also the private industries: Sitharaman

New Delhi, Nov 29 (KNN) Technically, setting up industry is very much within the realm of the State Government and also the private industries, said Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

She said this responding to a request made to her by Col Sonaram Choudhary, MP, Barmer, during question hour in Parliament on Monday to consider supporting certain districts in Rajasthan, which are backward.

Col Choudhary had said, “In Rajasthan, there are some districts like Jaisalmer and Barmer, which I represent. These are very backward and famine-prone districts. Jaisalmer is a zero-industry district. There is not even a single industry.”

Minister (Sitharaman) should consider supporting certain districts in the State, which are backward, he said adding that “though, there are some schemes about which she has mentioned in her answer that the other respective Ministries can launch some schemes for development, but unfortunately other Ministries have not come forward for the same.”

The Barmer MP sought Centre’s help through some package for Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jalore districts.

He said, “The Rajasthan Government, six-months back has, launched a ‘Resurgent Rajasthan’ scheme, but there is paucity / crunch of funds and they cannot implement it. Will the Minister help in this respect?”

Responding to this, Sitharaman said, “I do agree that Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jalore are definitely backward districts and no industries have really been significantly developed in those districts. However, as things stand, we have projects only which are running in some States and the NITI Aayog -- the former Planning Commission – determines as to which are the backward States or Districts or Union Territories.”

She said at the moment, there is no policy with the Ministry that declares districts or States as backward from its side.

Sitharaman said Ministries like Textiles, Communication and Information Technology, MSME and also Chemical and Fertilizers do have various programmes for benefiting different States.

So, it might be well worthwhile of the MP himself with the Members from Rajasthan to approach various Ministries and see which can be implemented and made useful for Rajasthan itself, she suggested.

Similarly, with regards to concern raised by Bundelkhand MP, she said, “Bundelkhand, which certainly is backward and requires a lot of assistance in terms of setting up industry and so on. But technically, setting up industry is very much within the realm of the State Government and also the private industries.”

It might well be considered by the State Government, and the Members of Parliament could probably work together with the Ministry of Food Processing, which can help in the process, she added. (KNN Bureau)