GUWAHATI, Sept 4 � The State Industry Department today assured a 17-member joint delegation of Assam Kahar Silpi Santha and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) of steps to prepare a new industrial policy so as to save the traditional industries of the State from being extinct.
The KMSS said in a statement here this evening that the above assurance was made by the senior officials of the Industries Department, including its Principal Secretary RT Jindal, at a discussion held with a joint delegation of the Kahar Silpi Santha and KMSS at the Assam Secretariat here.
For the first time, the Industries Department assured steps to make budgetary allocations for the traditional industries of the State, like the silk industry of Sualkuchi and bell-metal industry of Sarthebari.
The Department also agreed in principle to extend subsidy to the bell-metal artisans in purchasing raw materials for their production units. Moreover, the Department agreed in principle to extend an interest-free loan of at least Rs 2 lakh to each of the 1,700 artisans engaged in the 282 bell-metal production units of Sarthebari to purchase raw materials.
Jindal informed the joint delegation of the Santha and the KMSS that another discussion would be held with both the organisations on these issues on September 12.
In the discussion, it was also decided to take the protection under the patent registration regulations to save the bell-metal industry of Sarthebari from the fake items produced in other parts of the country.
The Department assured the joint delegation that soon discussions would be held with the Forest Department, Food and Civil Supplies Department and Health Department of the State on the issues related to supply of waste timber to the bell-metal workers for charcoal production and extension of food security and health care facilities to them, the statement added.