Kerala Vision 2030 Change of Face of Kerala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palakkad, Kerala, India, Republic of (Free-Press-Release.com) January 26, 2012 --

There is a Kerala model of development- which has been responsible for the service sector creating wealth and income for the State. There are commercial crops, which hold a mainstay in providing employment, retaining Capital, and running the economy of this tiny state. But, compared to other states, Kerala's is under developed economy, which needs infrastructure, growth oriented industries, value added products out of commercial crops. The Queen of the Arabian Sea, the Cochin Port, one of the best natural harbours and all weather Port, waits for Cargo which never comes. It is hugely dependent upon imported cargo.

Kerala is headquarters to many of the Commodity Boards like Spices, Coconut, Coir, Cashew, marine products,etc. It has Coffee, and Tea Board offices to provide the necessary escort service to support Generalised system of Preferences benefit by issuing Certificate of Origin (Preferential). Coir industry has been a traditional industry, providing employment to women, espiecally in the coastal belt of Kerala- Alleppey, Shertalla, Vaikom, Kollam, Cheriyankeezhu, Malabar, etc.For the first time, since its formation, the first non-official Chairman, being a Politician and Chairman of various Parliamentary Committees when he was three times a member of Parliament, had new ideas for this traditional industry which was critically ill needing clinical surgary.The administrative maministry for the Coir Board was Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises. The uniqueness of this Ministry was that it was confined to only the Coir Sector, and Khadi and Village industries. It also had agro and small industries as part of its departments. A Ministry which catered to the small, village sector could not have export orientation, nor did it possess enough expertise to wade through the opportunities existing and emerging in the sectors which were administered by them. Coir industry had a host of problems- no ITC specialized nos for different coir products, narration was concise which did not depict the new products, no product of the industry was included in any promotional scheme of the Foreign Trade Policy. The Minsitry did not have objective interaction with the Minsitry of Commerce, as a result, Coir Board had to drive its operations by making theme presentations about the state of affairs. Mind you, in 2005 when Shri A C Jose took charge, Coir Exports was poised with an export turnover of Rs 300 Cr. How to bring Coir export industry into focus was his main problem?

By inviting me to serve him as Advisor, a new plan was proposed which gave a different prespective of the Industry,and the direction it would take, if support was provided by the Promotional Schemes of the FTP. Between 2006-7, Coir Industry was extended the benefit of all the Schemes such as Vishesh krishi Gram Udyog Yojana, Focus product Scheme, Special Focus Product Scheme, Focus Market Scheme, Market Development Scheme and Market Assistance Initiative Scheme. Government released around Rs 1.5 Cr for hosting the India International Coir Fair in 2007, ITPO and ECGC, Apollo Tyres, Banks, provided Sponsorships (around Rs 25 lakhs) and the Fair created visibility for the Coir industry both at the domestic level as well as at the export level. Coir board promised to host the next session in 2009 which it never did.
Coir industry did not have a holistic scheme. Rs 243 Cr Rejuvenation/i], Modernization and Technology up-gradation of the Coir industry was designed, proposed and highlighted from the Planing Commission level. Thanks to Hon'ble Shri Jairam Ramesh's personal intervention, it got approved by the PMO,and it was sanctioned in the XI Five Year Plan, as a Scheme of the Coir Board who were the implementing agency. This was the first time, a full scheme, for a sector, prepared by a Commodity Board, was approved by the Planning Commission and GoI

It was during this time that the Coir board which did not enjoy Income Tax benefit under Sec 10(29A) of the Income Tax Act was brought under it and provided with 100% Income tax exemption. Director General of Supplies & Disposals, GoI included Coir products under its scheme.
When Sam Patroda submitted his Vision 2030 Scheme, he had given space to the traditional industry Coir, which would be developed so that modernized Coir industry would play a future yet decisive role in Kerala's exports.
The industry which was eligible for a lone benefit of 1% DEPB in January 2006, got support from the GoI, espiecally the Minsitry of Commerce, Department of Revenue which revised the entire ITC(HS) Codes by allotting new numbers.

One another great achievement was, the splinter Associations who had feeble voice of the manufacturing Coir sector came under one umbrella, and that gave decisive strength to them.
Coir Industry is hoping to cross Rs 1000 Cr by way of exports in the immediate future. But unless, the Board is mentored by progressive people who have development at heart, traditional industries may not make much headway. In this context, the immeasurable zeal shown by Shri A C Jose, needs to be appreciated.

Coir     domestic     economy     Employment Contract Template     export boom     Promotional schemes     traditional     turbulance