Gurpurab Greetings Birthday of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (November 4) 2 Punjab Advance August 2016 Editorial apt Amarinder Singh, the people’s Chief Minister of Punjab, has kept his prom- Cise. His newly announced industrial policy has provided a level playing field to the old and new industries. This is in sharp contrast to the discriminatory policies followed in the last decade, where barring a selected few, no space was provided for any other player to set up or grow business. The path-breaking initiative, has come as a timely Diwali gift for the industrialists and traders who had been living in utter despondency following the collapse of their business. The provisions in the policy are clearly designed to inject the much-needed optimism into the system. With the implementation of the promised Rs 5/unit power for the industry becoming a reality from November 1, the stage is set for creating the necessary environment to boost business. Not only will the new policy help bring new industries into Punjab it would also boost the government’s efforts to rehabilitate sick industries and woo back the ones that had shifted out of the state in search of greener pastures over the years. With its focus on revival of MSMEs, the new policy has ensured that the small and medium industries, which had been the backbone of the state’s industrial development till some years ago, get back on their feet. The policy has come in for praise from the industry with the CII calling it forward look- ing and industry friendly. “The new industrial policy demonstrates the state government’s intent and commitment to accelerate industrial growth in the state,”said the Chairman. The small and marginal farmers were also in for good news, with the state government issuing the notification for the implementation of the crop loan waiver scheme. November - 2017 Punjab Advance 3 Contents Punjab Advance www.punjabadvanceonline.com Capt unveils package for industry LNOVEMBER - 2017 LVOL-4 L ISSUE-9 C.E.O. N Gurkirat Kirpal Singh (IAS) Editor N Donald Banerjee Designer N Kumar Jiv Chumber Publisher N Information & Public Relations Department, Punjab 06 Contact address N Commercial banks covered PUNJAB ADVANCE, Room No. 1, 5th Floor, under farm debt waiver Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh-160001 Ph. : 0172-2740668 [email protected] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the authors in the articles published in PUNJAB ADVANCE are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Punjab Government or the organization they work for. Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or expand the articles submitted. In case of any dispute, legal 14 jurisdiction will lie in Chandigarh based courts. Published and Edited by Gurkirat Kirpal Singh (IAS) on behalf of the Information and Indian startup Public Relations Department, Punjab at Room No. 1, 5th Floor, Civil Sectt., develops cybersecurity Chandigarh. solutions Page-42 4 Punjab Advance November - 2017 Sewa Kendras to be ‘Lambi Judaai’, rationalized literally 28 18 People-friendly policing Paddy procurement is the new mantra set to touch record high 30 Kapurthala golfer wins 8th Asian Tour title 20 Pain in the tailbone 40 Page-44 November - 2017 Punjab Advance 5 Cover Capt unveils package for industry · ` 100 cr fund for startups · Power at ` 5 per unit · One-time loan settlement BUREAU REPORT ndustrial power tariff at Rs 5 per unit, a one-time settlement of industrial loans, RsI 100 crore fund to promote start-ups and a com- plete skill development mission. These are some of the highlights of the state’s new New Indus- trial and Business Development Policy-2017. A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, gave its nod to the salient features of the policy, including the provi- sion regarding five year fixed power tariff for ex- isting and new industries. Besides incentives for expansion and upgrada- tion of the existing units, the new policy envis- ages a one-time settlement for loans taken from the Punjab State Industrial Development Corpo- ration (PSIDC), the Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC) and the Punjab Agro Industries Corpora- tion Ltd (PAIC). The One-Time Settlement (OTS) policy, 2017, will help in releasing blocked industrial invest- ments and assets and put these to productive use, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh 6 Punjab Advance November - 2017 Cover File photo of a small industrial unit in Ludhiana thus reviving the existing in- zone and kandi areas. 10 technology centres, 10 com- dustries in Punjab. The new policy has been pre- mon facility centres and 10 clus- The establishment of a skills pared in consultation with all ters for development in the first university and industry specific stakeholders, including indus- phase. Besides, the state would skill-development centres, are trial associations and the depart- set up MSME (Micro, Small and other highlights of this policy. ments concerned. Medium Enterprises) facilitation All skill training schemes in the Aimed at promoting ease of councils at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, state will be brought under one doing business, the policy is Amritsar, SAS Nagar and Pa- agency, the Punjab Skill Devel- founded on the eight strategic tiala to provide remedial meas- opment Mission. pillars of infrastructure, power, ures. The Chief Minsiter has come MSME, startup and entrepre- Single-window facility to ex- out with a border area develop- neurship, skill development, isting enterprises at the district- ment package by hiking the in- ease of doing business, fiscal level and special relief for sick centive to industry in the border and non-fiscal incentives, stake- MSME units are other features. areas from 125 per cent to 140 holder engagement and policy These will involve deferment of per cent. This would go a long implementation unit and sector recovery of arrears of electricity way in boosting development of specific strategies. duty, power bills, house tax and border districts, extreme border It envisages establishment of water charges for a period of November - 2017 Punjab Advance 7 Cover five years. spokesperson These units said. shall be exempted The policy from minimum provides incen- charges for elec- tives such as in- tric connection v e s t m e n t during closure pe- subsidy by way riod and incentive of reimburse- of exemption from ment of net electricity duty for SGST, exemp- three years shall tion from elec- also be provided. tricity duty, Development property tax etc. of 14 new indus- MSME units trial parks and have been given standardisation of more incentives all estate manage- establishment of exhibition and than large in- ment policies and procedures convention centres in Mohali, dustries, including access to fi- have also been provided for in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amrit- nance, infrastructure, markets the industry. It also provides for sar in the first phase, the and technology etc. Industry-friendly Policy:CII The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has fiscal incentives through one common integrated complimented the Punjab Government for the com- platform will go a long way in attracting investments prehensive, forward-looking and industry-friendly and building the confidence of the investors. 'New Industrial and Business Development Policy Gurmeet Singh Bhatia, Chairman, CII Punjab 2017'. State Council and Managing Director, Ajooni Congratulating the State leadership on decisions Biotech Limited, hailed measures such as incentives such as providing power to the Industry uniformly at for new and existing industries, besides a one-time `5 per unit as well as equal incentives for expansion, settlement policy for industries against loan taken modernisation and upgradation of the existing units from PSIDC and PFC. The new Industrial policy at par with new investments, Sumant Sinha, Chair- has also extended a special relief package for BIFR man, CII Northern Region & Chairman & CEO, registered / declared sick large units by reimburse- ReNew Power Ventures, said the new Industrial Pol- ment of 75% of net VAT/net SGST for a period of 5 icy clearly demonstrates the State Government’s in- tent and commitment to accelerate the Industrial years. growth in the state. Babu Khan, Regional Director, CII Northern Re- Sachit Jain, Deputy Chairman, CII Northern Re- gion, praised the State Government for having gion and Vice Chairman and Managing Director, adopted a partnership approach and a comprehen- Vardhaman Special Steel, said several key policy de- sive consultation with all stakeholders while drafting cisions, including ‘Business First’ approach to ac- the policy. He expressed satisfaction that many of cord foremost priority to the growth and the suggestions / inputs given by the industry have development of business in the state and delivery of found place in the policy approved by the Cabinet. 8 Punjab Advance November - 2017 Cover Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh looks on as Union Minister Rajnath Singh unveils the viewers’ gallery at Hussainiwala Special package for border areas BUREAU REPORT unjab Chief Minister Capt ister said the Centre was committed to tions for the residents. The new indus- Amarinder Singh has extending all possible help to the peo- trial policy of Punjab also provided for sought central government support for ple of these areas and resolve their is- special incentives to these areas, he Pthe state’s development programmes sues on priority. added. for the border areas, including a pro- Pointing out that Punjab had a 553 Captain Amarinder urged the Min- posed special package for the region. km