The Gazetteers Department

The work of the Directorate of Industries, Maharashtra State, is mainly confined to the development and progress of large-scale, small-scale and cottage industries in the State. The Department of Industries was reorganised and the Directorate of Industries was formed in August 1960. Control of cottage industries was transferred to the Directorate of Industries with effect from 1st December, 1960.

The Industries Commissioner and the Director of Industries is the head of the Directorate. He is also the Central Stores Purchasing Officer, the Controller of Weights and Measures, the State Coal Controller and the State Textile Controller. The Assistant Director of Industries, Aurangabad Region (Class I, State Industries Service), is the divisional head for that region and is under the control of the Industries Commissioner and the Director of Industries. His jurisdiction extends over the districts of Aurangabad, Bhir, Nanded, Parbhani and Osmanabad. He is assisted in his work by two Industries Officers stationed at Aurangabad and Nanded. Aurangabad and Bhir districts are in charge of the Industries Officer, Aurangabad. The collector of the district acts as the ex officio Deputy Commissioner of Industries. A junior industries inspector and a manual assistant are posted in Bhir district.

Functions

The main function of the Directorate of Industries is to foster the growth of large-scale, small-scale and cottage industries.

In regard to each of the above categories of industries, the duties of the department are as under —

(a) Large-Scale Industries:

(i) to scrutinise applications for industrial licences received under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 as amended, and to make suitable recommendations to the Government of India,

(ii) to advise parties on formalities and technical matters,

(iii) to assist parties in securing land, water, power, transport facilities, etc.,

(iv) to offer laboratory facilities for analysis of raw materials, finished products, etc., and

(v) to promote industrial research by grant of research grants.

(b) Small-Scale Industries:

(i) to assist parties in securing land, water, power, transport facilities, etc.,

(ii) to develop suitable sites in the industrial estates, so as to offer the small entrepreneurs ready-built worksheds with power and water arrangements and with community facilities like post office, canteen, etc., on co-operative basis,

(iii) to grant financial assistance by way of loans under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 and subsidy on power supply and to sponsor the grant of such assistance by institutions like the State Bank of India, the State Financial Corporation and the National Small Industries Corporation for hire or purchase of machinery,

(iv) to assist parties in securing imported raw materials and controlled indigenous materials,

(v) to assist parties in marketing products by registration with the Central Stores Purchase Organisation, Director General of Supplies and Disposals, National Small Industries Corporation and by persuading them to join the Quality Marking Scheme,

(vi) to collect quarterly statistics of production and labour, and

(vii) to advise parties on formalities and technical matters,

(i) to grant financial assistance exceeding Rs. 3,000 and up to Rs. 5,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 to artisans and promote formation of industrial co-operatives of the artisans, and (ii) to encourage the industries for State Purchase Programme. Among the miscellaneous functions of the department are included the following:—

(i) central purchase of stores required by Government departments and institutions, and

(ii) enforcement of the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad, the following functions of the Directorate have been transferred to the Zilla Parishad with effect from 1st May, 1962.

(i) grant of financial assistance up to Rs. 3,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960; the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 and under the Bonafide Craftsmen and the Backward class and the Artisans and the Educated Unemployed schemes, (ii) organise training-cum-production centres.

Work in the District

The Cotton Weaving School at Bhir and the weaving school in Flax and Fibre at Neknoor were run by the Directorate for giving training to the artisans in the improved methods of production. The control of these schools has been transferred to Zilla Parishad with effect from May 1, 1962.

The Directorate paid loans to the tune of Rs. 38,025 to 61 persons from the district during the Second Five-Year Plan period under the State Aid to Industries Rules. Besides, loans amounting to Rs. 73,023 were given to 26 parties under the Khadi and Village Industries Scheme.

A co-operative society viz., the Industrial estate was formed at Parali-Vaijnath in Ambejogai tahsil. The membership of the society was 90 and it had a share capital of Rs. 20,000. The Government have contributed to share capital on fifty-fifty basis. The estate aims at fostering a systematic and planned growth of industrial activities by providing facilities like transport, banking, water-supply, power, etc.