Growth Agenda for Uttarakhand. Focus on MSMEs, Tourism, Infrastructure and Hill Development

As part of its public policy work, CII Uttarakhand State Council released a paper on ‘Growth Agenda for Uttarakhand’. The document suggests specific policy measures, initiatives and projects which would help Uttarakhand sustain the growth momentum that it has achieved over the last one decade of its existence.

Elaborating on the recommendations, Dr S Farooq, Chairman CII Uttarakhand State Council said that the State has achieved a remarkable growth of 12.9% per annum over 2004-05 and 2009-10 as against the national average of 8.6%. This growth has been led largely by manufacturing. The sector in the state grew at 27.5% per annum as against the national average of 9.5%. However, going forward, within manufacturing the focus will have to be on MSMEs and encouraging ancillarisation. This is necessary to be able to achieve a wider geographical spread for manufacturing. Till now most of the new units have come up in districts of Haridwar, Udhamsingh Nagar and Dehradun.

Hill Development has to be another key focus area for achieving sustainable inclusive growth. The report suggests making tourism the mainstay of hill development. Related activities like the souvenir industry, handlooms and handicrafts also need to be focused upon. MSMEs based on the local resources, for example agro based units, or units based on processing of herbs and aromatic plants should be encouraged. Service sector, specially Education sector can play a vital role in promoting Hill Development, The report suggests creation of ‘Education Hubs’, one each in Garhwal and Kumaon.

Good infrastructure, specially connectivity, is essential to support the economic activity in the hills, emphasized Dr Farooq. Good infrastructure and an investment friendly climate will also play a key role in determining what further manufacturing investment comes into the State, added Dr Farooq. Availability of skilled manpower is an important element of investment attractiveness. CII suggests setting up of skill gurkuls which are residential skill facilities for school dropouts from BPL families. Another unique characteristic of the skill gurkul model is its partnership with industry which ensure employment to the employable.

The key areas that the report focuses on include: zoning plans for districts, improving connectivity, industrial development, special tourism zones, skill gurukuls, apna – ghar: low cost housing scheme, improving urban infrastructure, hill development and environment conservation.

The report has been presented by CII to Shri Prakash Pant, Hon’ble Minister, Labour & Planning, Govt of Uttarakhand, Shri Harak Singh Rawat, Leader of Opposition, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Shri Satpal Maharaj, Hon’ble MP, Lok Sabha as part of its dialogue with various political parties to share and exchange ideas for the development of the State.