RSP ASSISTS PROMOTION OF LOCAL SSIs

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has placed orders worth RS.40.19 crore on local small scale industries during 2001-02 to promote growth of small scale industries in and around Rourkela. Under the guidance and strict vigil of the Minister for Steel Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy, RSP has been laying special emphasis on the development of SSIs to boost up the industrialisation of Orissa. It has set up an exclusive cell-Peripheral Industrial Development Cell (PIDC)- under the Materials Management Department for catering to the development needs of local SSI units. The responsibilities of the cell include identifying items of regular consumption and recommending local industries for manufacturing such items and providing them technical assistance. The Cell also coordinates with various department of RSP on behalf of SSI units with a view to improve the volume of order placement on them. RSP gives special incentives to the local SSI units. They are exempted from security deposit, earnest money and testing facilities are provided to them free of charge. To facilitate early payment RSP has streamlined the process of documentation for the materials from the local SSIs. Four more units have been shortlisted and are under consideration by RSP for according ancillary status. Procurement of mechanical spares manufactured as per RSP's drawings is around 85 per cent from local SSIs. RSP has set up a local forum called Plant Level Advisory Committee (PLAC) to review the policy, planning and monitoring functions for development of local SSI units.