Agro based Industries:
Through various schemes including those meant for controlling the shifting cultivation, cash crop plantations of permanent nature are already launched and more and more of this type of plantations will be encouraged throughout the State. Plantation crops will also be taken up with a view to increase required industrial raw materials. Similarly management of forests will be tuned towards more production of required Industrial raw materials. Agro-based and Forest
based Industries will be set up to profitably utilise the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forest produces as industrial raw materials. Special emphasis will therefore be laid on cultivation of different kinds of fruits, Potatoes, Oilseeds, Vegetables, Sugarcane, Tea, Coffee, Rubber and other kinds of cash and plantation crops. Industries which cater to the requirement of Agricultural Sector such as pumps, pipes and various Agricultural implements will be given special attention. Mizoram Agro Industries Development Corporation will immediately be formed and the same will be given the task of implementing various programmes and schemes for the development of Agro and Forest based industries.
Handloom and Handicraft Industries:
The women folk of Mizoram have practically abandaned their age old practice of loinloom weaving as this has now become economically unviable. At present only an insignificant
number of people, has started practising weaving by handloom. Considering the need for creating employment and self-employment in this sector especially among the womenfolk and also in view of the good market prospect of Mizo handloom throughout the country and abroad special thrust will be made to spread handloom industries in the State and upgrade the skill and technology of modern handloom for the benefit of weavers. In order to facilitate the marketing of handloom and handicrafts products, the State Government will take all possible measure to explore national and international marketing outlets. With a view to fullfilling this objective, emporia/showroom will be established in and outside the State. Various handicraft products based on bamboo, cane, wood and fibre will be made to suit the national and international markets. Efforts will also be made to obtain modern technologies for bamboo and cane industries from those countries which have the latest and best technologies. In order that this is effectively implemented in a speedy
and systematic manner Mizoram Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation will be formed and also co-operatives will suitably be strengthened.
Sericulture Industries:
Mizoram offers immense scope for the development of sericulture for the economic upliftment of rural people. Since this sector of economic activity is known to be a very feasible alternative to shifting cultivation, Government will accord high priority for the development of sericulture. As a strategy for systematic and speedy development of sericulture industries the Government will adopt an intensive method and area approach. While all varieties of silk will be produced in the State Special emphasis will be laid on production of Oaktasar and Mulberry silks. It will be the endeavour of the Government to encourage large production of seeds and cocoons in the private and co-operative sectors. Reeling and silk Weaving Industries will also be encouraged. Government of Mizoram will explore all possible national and international markets to assist the producers. Training Centre and Demonstration-cum Production Centres will be set up within the State. In order to effectively implements the programmes the organisation of Sericulture Department will be reviewed and required expansion and improvements made. Expert consultants as required will be employed and also all necessary assistance obtained from the Central Silk Board.
Electronic Industries:
Considering the increase use of communication, tele- communication, medical equipments and consumer electronic products in the country especially in the North Eastern Region and also considering the fact that electronic items are small in volume and high in cost suiting the conditions of hilly regions like Mizoram and also considering the fact that there are increasing numbers of educated young men and women in Mizoram who are interested in this electronic field,
the Government of Mizoram consider essential and feasible to immediately launch a programme for development of electronics industries in the State. Even though this field of industrial activity is new to this State it will be in the interest of the development of the people of Mizoram to make a start as early as possible in this regard because electronics cannot be ignored in the mordern world and at this time when the country as a whole is at the threshold of the 21st century. A special programme for training of local educated young boys and girls will be immediately launched in the field of electronics. The Department of Industries will create suitable section to look after the programme. The Government will also consider formation of the Mizoram Electronics Development Corporation at the appropriate stage so that electronic equipments including computers may be introduced to various offices and joint sector industries may also be set up in the State in collaboration with willing national or other State enterprises or with willing private entrepreneurs.
Village and Cottage Industries:
In order to provide employment to the people especially those living in rural villages the State Government will take all necessary actions to provide assistance in establishment of numbers of village and cottage industries. This will be done through the District Industries Centres, Khadi and Village Industries Board. Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation, Industrial Cooperatives, recognised Private Voluntary Organisations and other approved Agencies. The concerted activities of these Agencies will be assisted by financing agencies, marketing
and raw material supply agencies under the over all coordination of the State Government.
Consumer Industries:
With a view to prevent the flow of money out of the Mizoram State through the channel of consumer suplies and also with a view to improve the general economy of the State, the Department of Industries, Government of Mizoram will immediately identify consumer items that are mostly in constant use within the State and that are possible to be immediately produced through small scale industries within the State. To the extent possible those items which can be supplied to the neighbouring State will also be included. The Government will give special efforts for having those identified type of industries set up in the small scale sector by willing local private small scale entrepreneurs. All necessary assistance will be given to them by the State Government.
Government Support and Protection the Local Industries:
It will be the policy of the State Government to provide necessary support and protection to the local industries and accordingly take necessary fiscal, legal, economic and administrative measures to fulfil this objective. In order to give stronger financial support the State Government will consider making higher plan fund allocation to this sector.
Supporting Institutions:
Recognising the fact that development of industries can take place only in an environment where all requisite factors are available and necessary supporting institutions are constantly helping the entrepreneurs, the State Government will take necessary measures to prevail upon the Central Government to open the units of national level specialised institutions such as fullfledged Small Industries Services Institute, branch offices of National Small Industries Corporation, Prototype Development and Training Centre of the National Small Industries Corporation, Unit of the North Eastern Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation
of the IDBI, Unit of the National Institute of Small Industries and Extension Training Institute of the Ministry of Industry, Unit of the Regional Testing Centre of the Ministry of Industry, etc. and also to set up units of Hindustan Machine Tools, Indian Telephone Industries, Indian Petro-Chemicals Corporation Limited etc. in the State of Mizoram. All out efforts should be made to improve and increase banking and other financial institutions in the State and to tap available financial resources from national level financial institutions such as IDBI, CSB, NABARD, IFCI, NCDC etc.
Supply of Raw Materials:
A practicable arrangement for ensuring availability of raw material at the right time and at reasonable price and in adequate quantity will be made and effective steps will be taken to ensure that industrial raw materials are actually available to the local industries in this manner. As for industrial raw materials which are localy available and are under the control of the State Government Departments and the public like forest produce, mineral, agricultural produce etc. a suitable arrangement at inter-department level will be made to remove problems that may be faced by the industries. As for control items such as iron, steel,aluminium, cement, mutton tallow etc. the State Government will make arrangements to obtain sufficient allocations from the Central authorities and also arrange common procurement, storage and local distribution
through Government control agency. Such scarce industrial raw materials will be given special attentions by the State Government so that the raw materials problem of the local industries will be removed.
Marketing Support:
The State Government will provide a strong and effective marketing support to the local industries through various measures including levying of taxes on goods coming from outside the State which are manufactured locally and stores purchases by the State Government departments and Government control agencies from products of local industries through the arrangement of prescribed rate contracts with a fixed price preferences as against the products from outside the State. A suitable Scheme of Government Stores Purchases through a system of rate contracts will be framed and implemented by the State Government. In order to develop the marketing system in an institutionalised manner the State Government will consider, at the appropriate stage, formation of the Mizoram Trading and Development Corporation.
Master Plan:
Side by side the launching of action programmes for the development of known priority industries aforementioned the State Government of Mizoram, as a longer term measure, will prepare master plan for the industrial development of the State having 2000 A.D. in view. In order to have this work done the department of Industries, Government of Mizoram, will employ the services of reputed specialised agency. The selected agency will conduct industrial potential survey and identify feasible industries which can be set up within the State in large,
medium and small scale sectors the over-all report of which will form the above mentioned master plan. The agency will also prepare project reports of all the identified feasible industries. Such master plan and project reports will be of immense use for the Government, agencies connected with industrial development and entrepreneurs.
Human Resources Development:
The State Government recognised that the basic problem in the process of industrialisation in the State is lack of technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skill among the people. It will therefore be the endeavour of the State Government to take all possible measure to ensure that sufficient numbers of young men and women are imparted necessary training so that there will be sufficient supply of qualified manpower to Industries. In order to fulfil this objective
existing polytechnic institute, I.T.I. and other training centres will be strengthened and new I.T.I. and Industrial Training Centres will be opened. Recognized Private Voluntary Organisations and selected industrial units will also be involved in the task. In order to institutionalised the process of Entrepreneurship Development will be set up with initial
assistance of specialised agencies like the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad and National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, New Delhi. The entrepreneurial spirit and motivation will also be expanded through selected schools and colleges in the State.
Review of Existing Units:
The functioning of the existing industrial units in the State will be reviewed and the defunct or non-functioning units will be eliminated. Sick units will be identified and necessary action taken to revive them. A directory of functioning units will be prepared since such directory will be of immense use for the Government and other agencies for preparation of various assistance programmes.
Improvement in Procedure:
The state Government will review the existing working procedure practised by the Directorate of Industries, Directorate of Sericulture and other concerned agencies under the control
of the State Government, identify the constraints and then compile a working manual to streamline the departmental functions and procedures.
Development of Infrastructure:
The State Government recognized that adequate infrastructural facilities which will attract industrial investment are not existing in the State at present. It will, therefore be the endeavour of the State Government to speed up the development process of power and electricity, roads and communications, water suply and other facilities that will contribute to the faster development of industries in the State. Growth centres and Industrial Estates will be developed to facilitate healthy growth of industries in the State. In those industrial growth centres and estates physical, social and other required facilities will be provided to be commonly benefitted by the industries located in the area. Careful selection of the location for such Growth Centres and Industrial Estates will be made having in view the technical, economical,
social and other pre-requisites for successful setting up and management on Industries. Mini Industrial Estates of flatted type will be set up in Aizawl and other towns where numbers of pollution free small and cottage industries may be run by willing entrepreneurs.
Ecological Balance:
The State Government recognised the importance of environmental protection and maintenance of ecological balance and would therefore enforce measures for control of pollution and discharge of effluents. In the ecologically sensitive areas and in Aizawl city and also in others elected towns no polluting industries will be set up. Efforts will be made to increase the awareness among the people about the impact of industrialisation on the environment and take adequate steps to preserve the purity of environment. An incentive scheme would be made for installation of pollution control and monitoring equipments in industrial plans. In order to help in taking up various population control measures State Pollution Control Board will be constituted.
Mining and Mineral based Industries:
In regard to mining Mizoram is a beginner. Considering the potential of mineral resources in Mizoram the State Government will make every possible effort to explore and extract available mineral within the shortest time possible and have mineral based Industries set up in the State. The State Geology and Mining Directorate will be strengthened to enable it to take effective actions for exploration and extraction. Necessary assistance will be obtained from GSI and other
specialised agencies in the country. In the mining operation and setting up of industries based on minerals the State Government will ensure maximum benefit for the local people.
Tourism as Industry:
Recognising the potential of the State with its scenic beauty and alluring climatic condition to appeal the tourists, the State Government will take steps to recognize tourism as an industry and extend the available facilities and incentives to various selected items covered under Tourism Industry.
Film Industries:
Cinema Halls and production of films including video film production as may be specified by the State Government, will be treated as an industry for the purpose of providing various State Government incentives, The State Government will take special care to see that Cinema Halls are carefully and selectively located at places where the actual requirements are to be met. Production of Mizo films will be encouraged.
Awards to Meritorious Entreprenurs:
In order to encourage healthy competition among the entrepreneurs a scheme will be evolved for giving State Award to meritorious entrepreneurs for their outstanding achievements.
Revival of Sick Units:
Sickness in Industry emanates from bad management, shortage of raw materials, inadequate marketing facilities and other factors. The State Government will take necessary measures for
rehabilitation of identified sick units including implementation of central scheme for revival of sick units and framing suitable State Level Scheme to provide facilities in regard to sales tax, electricity re-schedulement of loan repayment, additional working capital, training and management subsidies and other suitable facilities.
Quality Control and Standardisation:
Efforts will also be made to introduce standardisation and quality control in industrial products with the assistance of relevant Central Institutions. Measures will be taken to set up suitable institution for testing and quality control of selected industrial products in the State.
Appropriate Technology and Foreign Assistance:
Considering the scarcity of labours in the State resulting in high labour cost and also considering the fast advancement of technology in the modern time the State Government will take steps to adopt those labour saving and high technologies as may be appropriate in the State. The State Government will take all possible steps to obtain most suitable technologies for the industrial utilisation of abundant local raw materials, like cane and bamboo, herbs, wild banana etc. Suitable technologies will be sought even from abroad especially South Eastern Countries. It will also be the endeavour of the State Government to explore possibility for obtaining assistance from international agencies and foreign countries to help in setting up of appropriate types of industries and institutions with modern technologies within the State of Mizoram.
The Need for Central Government Support and Assistance:
The State Government of Mizoram is aware of the national policy for reduction of regional imbalances and special attention to be paid to the developmental process in the declared
industrially backward areas. In line with this national policy the State Government of Mizoram will endeavour to prevail upon the Central Government to continue various Central Government incentives such as Central Investment Subsidy, Central Transport Subsidy, etc. extended to the industriallay backward areas in the North Eastern Region including Mizoram.
