JOIN USIndustry body Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) President V K Dikshit on Friday complained that the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector is harassed by up to 20 state government departments for approvals in setting up new industries.
Sharing the grievances faced by SME sector in an interaction on SME Development in Karnataka in the presence of the state Commissioner for Industrial Development, and Director of Industries and Commerce Gaurav Gupta and Kassia members, Dikshit said, “Why are we forced to to run around for approvals? In Western countries it takes an hour to get approvals. EGovernance is the need of the hour with all the departments for ease of doing business. Business is down by 20 to 80 per cent in each sector and there is hardly any profit. There is no enthusiasm in the youth to start a new industry.”
Kassia members were very keen to know when will Karnataka government will abolish the Trade Licence.
Former Kassia president M Rajamane appealed to the government to allot land up to two acres for 10 years on lease-cum-sale basis. “We will not be interested in 99 acre leases. There is a requirement of 10,000 small plots measuring 3,000 sq ft, 5,000 sq ft, and 10,000 sq.ft each to industries all over Karnataka under 10-year lease-cum-sale basis,” he added.
On his part, Gaurav Gupta said the state has taken initiative to launch the eBiz Karnataka portal.