Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy defends note ban as poll promise fulfillment
Coimbatore: All the demands by the industrial sectors related to demonetisation and implementation of cashless economy would be considered by the Central government, Union minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (in-charge), Rajiv Pratap Rudy assured here on Wednesday.
Rudy was speaking at an awareness meeting on digital payments, organised by the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) and Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). The president of CODISSIA, V Sundaram and president of ICCI, Ms. Vanitha Mohan handed over a joint memorandum prepared by 51 trade and industrial associations in Coimbatore region.
The industry bodies’ demands included various changes in the implementation of ESI and PF schemes as part ‘ease of doing business’ measures. At least one moratorium for repayment of industrial loans, maintain interest rate below 8 per cent, to relax NPA norms and to establish adequate digital infrastructure facilities for helping the industries to overcome the impact of demonetisation, were among their other demands.
The minister from New Delhi in his address said, “the demonetisation was an act commitment as per the promise given in the 2014 lok Sabha election to abolish black money. After problems and struggles during the initial stage, now it is gradually becoming normal. Within a short period, we expect signals of a strong economy and problems in the transition period would be rectified.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would consider all demands from the industrial sectors vis-a-vis demonetisation, Rudy further assured. The cash crunch and shortage of cash in ATMs’ are short-lived and the issues would be solved partly in the implementation of digital payment system.”
Mr. Rudy said that various measures would be taken for skill development. “India’s workforce is lagging behind in skilled labour sector. Majority of the students from engineering colleges are not employable. There is need for about two lakh drivers soon in India. The Central government has initiated skill development programmes and the younger generation should be ready for the environment,” he added.
He also disclosed that the Central government was planning to provide higher educational opportunity for ITI students across the country to benefit students from 13,000 Industrial Training Institutes.
