Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/PMD/SP) 

Udupi, Jun 16: Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Commerce and Industry visited Krishna Math here on Friday, June 16, and thereafter addressed media persons at the BJP office where she discussed many issues concerning the local economy including problems faced by coconut growers due to black-headed leaf eating caterpillars, GST impacts, oil price fluctuations, rumours of declining American job market, and prohibition of beef.

Later she laid foundation stone for The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Counci.

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, which happens to be the apex gem and jewellery trade body in India will be setting up a premier Gem and Jewellery Training Institute here, which happens to be the first of its kind in the entire south India. This endeavour is expected to give a thrust to gem and jewellery sector in the region.

Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery is being set up here in association with National Institute of Design Ahmedabad. With this initiate, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council is foraying into the realm of education and training field in south India for the fist time.

Chairman of GJEPC, Praveenshankar Pandya, said that the new institute planned to be set up happens to be one of the ambitious projects being undertaken by the council. He said that the council s trongly believes in the idea of 'Make in India' concept being preached by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

The institute will impart training in hand-crafted jewellery to the young people from the region.This move will create employment opportunities in this sector. The institute also tries to hone the skills of the existing work force.

The institute will offer manufacturing and CAD designing courses in association with Indian Diamond Institute, Surat.

Nirmala has been in the state since yesterday and has already been to Mudigere and Chikkamagaluru.

"In Chikkamagaluru, we had meetings with coffee growers and also had this programme for explaining to people what the government has done in the centre for the last three years. In Mudigere, we met with coffee growers, pepper growers, areca nut growers to speak about what has been done by the government," she said.

"Today in Udupi, there are quite a few things we plan. One of the exhibitions will be opened today which will speak of the activities of the government aiming at the development of India in a holistic fashion. An acronym 'Modi-Fest’ has been given to it. It talks about Modifying India, developing India, which is where the acronym comes," she added.

"One very important government initiative that  I brought with the guidance of the PM to this particular region particularly is that, in several ways it is a first in this country, the gems and jewellery export promotion promotes the made in India jewellery. But of late there is a very severe skill shortage too. They have training centers in Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur, but there are no training centers in the south. So, knowing that this Puttur- Udupi belt that is known for jewellery, with leading jewelers here. But  smaller jewelers suffer from good quality workers, keeping them on pay. Therefore, to give a commitment to this part of the state and as a member of parliament from Karnataka, I have ensured that the first ever 'certified training programme' for jewellery making will be established in India, in Udupi," she said.

"As I have said, there are training everywhere in Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur, Delhi. But none of them get certificates. But here the certificate will be given by the Institute of National Importance, which is NID - National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad. It has been there for decades. But a very high level of designing is what they are working with - designing in all kinds of space - aircrafts, interiors, porches, homes, offices. But today, they will be collaborating with the gems and jewellery and will be certifying these courses. That is another programme dedicated for Udupi - it will give skills for people around in this area - women from rural areas, girls from school can join the course, get the certificate and it has immediate job opportunities," she further said.

"Eventually, we hope also to build a common facility centre where trained workers can be, workshop be provided therein, with good security and CCTV cameras, so that small jeweler can also go, give their gold and their design and  have the work done to their satisfaction," she added.

Sea erosion

"I will also be going to an area where the sea erosion will be inspected and  I will give a report to the centre and make sure that something is done so the erosion is contained and the land is not lost . Land is precious and the shortage of land is obvious. The coastal regulation zone also has a lot of restriction of use of land, but if further land is lost because of erosion, we may have lot of difficulty, so, I will go inspect and take the report.” She explained.

"At the moment we are starting with a leased building and eventually, we have a building dedicated for this," she said.

Question & Answer session 

On being asked about coconut plantations are being affected by black-headed leaf eating caterpillars causing massive loss to the growers, she said “As much as I know, I am not sure there has been any delegation coming and telling us about it as yet. But even otherwise, there are bodies with the coconut board and the agricultural histories on coconut research centre can come in and have a look at it.”

GST

“GST is not being implemented without the consultation. The consultation is not only till the level of finance minister of the states. But all stakeholders have been over the months spoken to - small trades  , big traders, those who are paying or not paying  excise and VAT, chartered accountant associations, cost accountant associations, trainers who are providing training for people who had to do electronic interventions. Over the months consultation process has been happening. At this stage, all ministries are gearing up for fire-fighting systems, ie from July 1 after the launch. If anybody is facing difficulties, respective ministries have their own fire-fighting wing. So, if you have a question in mind, you can go to the particular GST FAQ site and get the answers. After the July 1, if there are problems coming, every association has been given the wealth of information with which they can address queries on phone, email, twitter or social media.” she informed speaking about GST.

“Besides, ministers with commissioner-level offices are going to different destinations and addressing people who have questions on GST. So, we are constantly gearing up for the launch, to address teething problems that may arise.” she added.

Crude oil prices

“I think this has been answered several times and I will do it again. Crude oil prices have come down. And the oil marketing companies have been given the liberty to fix the price reflecting the fluctuation globally. But to expect a complete reduction to the extreme has been said as to why that is no happening because the government has been spending a lot of money in laying roads, highways and connecting many state level roads to national highways. Naturally, the government will have to look for some means of generating income, so that long-term infrastructure expenditure can be taken care of. Major improvement of roads is happening. The government t has to fund it from somewhere,” she said referring to crude oil prices.

Job cuts in USA

Speaking about job cuts in USA, she said "The NASSCOM has said that there is no need to panic. There are e no huge job losses. But certainly there is reshuffling happening within institutions to adjust their business model, to suit the businesses and the way in which they can expand. But the NASSCOM and major IT companies have said they are not going for major retrenchment. So, it is not loss per se but it is readjustment in the workforce which is happening in major IT companies. But our engagement with the US authorities has been going on, not just on H1B visa. The PM is also scheduled to go the USA, so he will engage with the POTUS," she said. 

Nirmala also spoke on beef export and areca nut prices. 

District BJP president, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, Thingale Vikramarjun Hegde, Naveen Kumar Kutyaru, Kuyldi Suresh Nayak, Shreesha Nayak, Uday Kumar Shetty, Geethanjanjali Suvarna, Shyamala Kundar and others were present at the press meet.