A file picture of the meals park in Tumakuru. Karnataka has over 6.5 lakh industries, largely comprising MSMEs.
Karnataka Budget 2023-24 is a blended bag and considered one of missed alternatives for micro and small-scale industries on condition that it’s an election-eve budget, stated Ok.N. Narasimha Murthy, president, Karnataka Small Scale Industries’ Association (KASSIA).
Expressing its disappointment, the trade physique noticed that the budget got here months earlier than the Assembly elections however didn’t provide soft loans for MSMEs prefer it did for the farm sector, additionally a a lot deserving section post-pandemic. There was no particular allocation for offering infrastructure in personal industrial estates, which is likely one of the burning points affecting an awesome majority of MSEs in Karnataka.
“Over 90% of the entrepreneurs operate in private industrial estates where they lack even basic infrastructure, which the budget should have recognised and done justice to. Also, the budget could have included an assurance not to hike power tariff for MSEs, and reduce consent fee charged by the Pollution Control Board, for a prescribed period until they come out of the effects of the Covid pandemic,’‘ Mr. Murthy added.
KASSIA questioned the veracity of the proposal to set up world class plug-and-play industrial parks around Bengaluru when there is no land available for the same. The proposal to set up new industrial clusters in nine districts was not new, but a rehash of previous promises made by the government.
The decision to set up mega and mini textile parks across 25 locations in Karnataka would spur job creation at district-level, paving the way for holistic development, as suggested by KASSIA in its pre-budget memorandum.
“The budget was inclusive and has addressed key critical areas by promoting industry, energy transmission, welfare of unorganised workers, skill development and entrepreneurship training,” stated L. Ravindran, president, Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce. “The increased allocation to Bengaluru to broaden highway infrastructure and metro connectivity to decongest town is a welcome transfer.’‘
Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, said the expression of interest to invite private organisations to build integrated townships in Mysuru, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Haveri, Kolar, and Ramanagaram under the Public-Private-Partnership model would definitely help develop the State’s start-up ecosystem past Bengaluru, and assist Karnataka obtain the nationwide $1 trillion digital financial system goal set for 2025.
“We welcome the bulletins made by the federal government for the start-up ecosystem within the State, together with the proposal to determine a state-of-the-art start-up park close to Kempegowda International Airport at a value of ₹30 crore, industrial clusters in 9 locations, and development of airports in Davangere and Koppal,’‘ he stated.
