Entrepreneurs belonging to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) finally got an assurance from Chief Minister Hemant Soren for their long pending demand of a proposed change in the procurement policy of the government. In a meeting with the representatives of SMEs and Department of Industries officials the CM said that the procurement policy of the state needs to be made favourable for local businesses and industries.
“It is our objective to encourage and develop local commerce in Jharkhand. And. For this purpose study of procurement policies of other states needs to be done. The best policy for Jharkhand should be adopted here,” the CM said.
The SME entrepreneurs told the CM during the meeting that the producers in Jharkhand do not get benefitted because most of the goods are brought from outside the state as per the policy of providing orders to minimum bidder on turnkey basis. However, they said that there was a possibility of 20 per cent of supply of goods by local producers even on the turnkey basis.
Director Industries, Dipankar Panda said that there was no provision of turnkey in the procurement policy but provision of 20 per cent supply of goods by local producers was already there.
The CM said that there was an urgent need of more study in the matter for the development of local businesses. The government was committed to develop industries in the state and is always with the Chamber of Commerce, he added.
Meanwhile, calling polythene a bane for environment Soren instructed to strictly ban its use. Requesting the Chamber of Commerce to act in this direction he said that future of everyone will be secure only when we remain aware and concerned about it. The CM stressed on the need of combined effort rather than forcing it on people.
Chief Secretary Sudhir Prasad, Principal Secretary to CM SK Satpathy, Principal Secretary Health BK Tripathy, Principal Sceratry IT NN Sinha. Secretary Industries Himani Pandey and other senior officials alongwith members of SMEs were present in the meeting.