Indigenise technologies: Ponnaiyan

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 28. Indigenise available technologies, reduce production costs, create quality consciousness and spare a thought for the rural poor. This was the message the Finance and Law Minister, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan, sought to deliver to industry leaders here today.

Addressing members of the South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that unlike in many of the northern States, the situation of the rural poor in Tamil Nadu was a cause for `alarm'. A random survey showed rural poverty hovered around 40 per cent, while at the same time, education levels were high. As a majority of the State's population continued to live in the rural areas, ``my personal view is that to improve the GDP, we need to concentrate more on rural economy.''

Pointing to the perennial water shortage in most districts, the Minister explained the initiatives taken under the ``wasteland development programme'' to activate farming in 50 lakh hectares of fallow land. Besides desilting and reactivating ponds and lakes, non-water intensive trees and plants that could provide alternative vehicle fuels, medicinal extracts, edible oil, bio- fertilizers and bio-medicines should be planted on a large scale. They had good export potential.

Pointing to the strengths of the small scale sector, Mr. Ponnaiyan said the industry should provide work to more people to reduce tensions arising out of rural poverty. ``We need to do something constructive by providing employment to more people. Even while looking at its performance, the industry should spare a thought for the 35 to 40 per cent of the rural poor''.

Mr. R. Muthu, president and Mr. A. Vellaiyan, vice- president, SICCI, said the Chamber was prepared to take up a `cost competitive study' by mapping the cost structure of industry. In the post-WTO scenario, the levy structure of the State and Central Governments would have to change drastically to save the SSI and tiny sector, besides the plantation sector. There were certain permissible tariff structures that could be implemented under the WTO regime. Mr. Muthu was later re-elected president for 2001- 2002.

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