The Gazetteers Department

The work done by the Directorate of Industries, in Sangli district is mainly confined to the development and progress of large-scale, small-scale and cottage industries in the district. The Department of Industries was re-organised as the Directorate of Industries in August 1960. The work pertaining to cottage industries which was looked after by the Directorate of Industries from 1st December 1960 was transferred to the Zilla Parishad with its formation on 1st May 1962.

The Industries Commissioner and the Director of Industries heads the Directorate of Industries, Maharashtra State, Bombay. He is also the Central Stores Purchasing Officer, the Controller of Weights and Measures, the State Coal Controller and the State Textile Controller. The Deputy Director of Industries, Poona Region, who is a Regional head works directly under the Industries Commissioner. The Collectors of the districts have been declared as the ex-officio Deputy Commissioners of Industries and the Industries Officer of the district is attached to the Collectorate. The Regional heads act as Technical Advisers and pay greater attention to the development aspect and advise the prospective entrepreneurs in regard to the problems faced by them. The Industries Officers have to work in close collaboration with the Regional Officer in respect of common matters and functions. Two Junior Industries Inspectors have been posted at Sangli and Miraj, respectively. Besides, one Senior Industries Inspector works at Sangli in the office of the Industries Officer, Sangli.

The main functions of the Directorate of Industries, pertain to Large-Scale Industries, Cottage Industries and Small-Scale Industries.

They are as under—

Large-Scale Industries.

(i) to process applications for industrial licences under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, as amended, and to make suitable recommendations to 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 means of research grants;

Small-Scale Industries.

(i) to assist parties in securing land, water, power and trans-

port facilities, etc.,

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

(iii) grant of 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 grant of such assistance by Institutions like the State Bank of India, the State Financial Corporation and the National Small Industries Corporation for 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;

Cottage Industies.

(i) to grant financial assistance exceeding Rs. 3,000 and up to Rs. 5,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, I960, and Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961, to artisans and formation of their industrial co-operatives and

(ii) to encourage the industries by marginal preferences in State Purchase Programme.

The Directorate also performs certain other functions such as:

(i) Central Purchase of Stores required by Government Departments and Institutions and (ii) enforcement of the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958.

Miscellaneous.

Functions transferred to Zilla Parished.—It may be mentioned that functions of this Directorate which are given below have been transferred to Zilla Parishad from 1st May 1962.

(i) to grant financial assistance up to Rs. 3,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960 and Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 and under, bona fide craftsmen and Backward Class Artisans and educated unemployed schemes and

(ii) to organise training-cum-production centres.

The Government in 1961-62 disbursed loans of Rs. 1,09,600 to three industrial units. The amount thus disbursed by way of loans rose to Rs. 2,14,000 to 59 industrial units in 1962-63. The Sangli Co-operative Industrial Estate Society secured loan of Rs. 2,00,000 from Sangli Bank under Government guarantee; Rs. 2,00,000 by way of ad hoc grant from Small Savings Collection and Rs. 50,000 by way of advance from common facility centre. The Government contributed Rs. 1,94,852 towards the share capital of the society as equal matching contribution.

TOP