Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 1: Local MLA, Raghupati Bhat, said that his recent visits to two large scale industries revealed that these industries, which claim tax exemption from the government, have been shirking from discharging the social responsibilities cast upon them.

He was speaking after inaugurating a programme of interaction and seminar of food processing industries, for industrialists from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, at Shubhodayala Hall of West End Country Club at Industrial Area Manipal on Wednesday November 30. The programme was held under the aegis of Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KSCIA), Udupi District Small Scale Industries Association, and District Industries Centre.

“A delegation of which I was a member, recently visited West Coast Paper Mills in Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district, and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, Mangalore. We found that the bigger industries had managed to escape from discharging their social responsibilities. MRPL got exemption of nearly Rs 2,000 crore from the government. It is earning a net profit of Rs 1,800 crore annually. It was expected to employ Kannadigas in 80 percent of jobs. But this has not happened. Only 45 percent in A category posts are Kannadigas. About 2,000 workers are on contract basis. Only five percent are working on permanent basis. Likewise, West Coast Paper Mills has not introduced even the minimum wages for its workers,” he explained.

He urged bureaucrats to think in terms of giving priority and importance to small scale industries on par with large scale industries, and the examine the possibility of extending tax exemptions to these units. He said more and more small scale industries need to come up, as they are set up in smaller places, and provide employment to rural population.

Zilla panchayat president, Katapadi Shankar Poojary, municipal president, Kiran Kumar, additional director in the department of industries and commerce, Rangaram, former KSCIA president, S S Biradar, president of Udupi District Small Scale Industries Association, John R D’Silva, and many others were present.

KSCIA president, Prakash N Raikar, welcomed. Santosh D’Souza proposed vote of thanks. B L Srinivas presented the programme.