Industrializing the North-East

S.Raghunath

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi was recently on an extended visit to the North-East and acting on his directive the Union Ministry for North-East Development has drawn up, as part of the 13th Five-year Plan a time-bound Special Component Plan (SCP) to promote environment-friendly light and medium industries in North-Eastern states to create employment to the educated youth and spur economic growth. A special feature of the SCP is streamlining the availability of raw materials to prospective entrepreneurs and according to guidelines just published, an entrepreneur need only approach the designated mode; District Industries Officer with a list of raw materials he needs and the rest is a cinch and Assam has been chosen to be the first state where the Plan is to be implemented on a pilot basis and let us see how well it is working.

“Welcome to Assam, Sir. So you’ve decided to set up your industry in our progressive and hospitable state? Let me congratulate you on your vision and sagacity. May I know your requirements of raw materials, Sir? Please remember that I’m here to anhydrous ammonia and acetic acid every month.”

Industrializing the North-East

S.Raghunath

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi was recently on an extended visit to the North-East and acting on his directive the Union Ministry for North-East Development has drawn up, as part of the 13th Five-year Plan a time-bound Special Component Plan (SCP) to promote environment-friendly light and medium industries in North-Eastern states to create employment to the educated youth and spur economic growth. A special feature of the SCP is streamlining the availability of raw materials to prospective entrepreneurs and according to guidelines just published, an entrepreneur need only approach the designated mode; District Industries Officer with a list of raw materials he needs and the rest is a cinch and Assam has been chosen to be the first state where the Plan is to be implemented on a pilot basis and let us see how well it is working.

“Welcome to Assam, Sir. So you’ve decided to set up your industry in our progressive and hospitable state? Let me congratulate you on your vision and sagacity. May I know your requirements of raw materials, Sir? Please remember that I’m here to anhydrous ammonia and acetic acid every month.”

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“Anhydrous ammonia and acetic acid? So, you’re planning to set up a state-of-the-art chemical industry in Assam? What an exciting news. I’ll straight away inform the CM about this happy development. Anything else you need, Sir? Please feel to ask.”

“Yes, I’d also need a truck load of stinking and revolting pigs’ intestines every week.”

“No problem, Sir. I’ll attach your factory to a piggery and you can lift your requirements directly. Any hitch in the supply chain and you call me right away.”

“I’d also require 10 kilolitres of French Polish and wood alcohol on a daily basis.”

“Yes, of course. How can a chemical industry operate without French polish and wood alcohol? I’ll see to it that your requirements are delivered at your factory site.”

“What about chicken droppings? My indent is for a tractor load every week.”

“There has been a large-scale expansion of poultry industry in the state and meeting your requirements of chicken droppings should be no problem. Anything else you need, sir? Please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’d also need a substantial quantity of mouldy, smelly and worn-out leather footwear.”

“Again no problem, sir. I’ll liaise and coordinate with a road-side cobbler in Guwahati and meet your indent.”

“What about poisonous, putrefying and nauseous fruits? My requirement is a truck load every alternate day.”

“Assam is now a leading horticulture state and I foresee no problem in meeting your requirement of poisonous fruits. Now let me see if I’ve got your indent right – Anhydrous ammonia and acetic acid, rotten pigs’ intestines, French polish and wood alcohol, chicken droppings, discarded footwear and putrefying fruits. One last question, sir. Just what’s it that you’re planning to manufacture?”

“HOOCH.”*