What’s in a name …?

What’s in a name …?

In the FINANCIAL EXPRESS of  10th June,2011,there was a thought provoking Editorial titled :” Manufacturing India”.To read it directly on the paper’s website,go to the following link:

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/fe-editorial-manufacturing-india/801561/0

In response to the above , I had written a letter to the Editor as under :

Dear Sir, 

This refers to your Editorial titled :”Manufacturing India” in FE of 10th June 2011. 

Industrial units, were not long ago, located in what were called “Industrial Estates”. Later,their name was changed to “Free Zones”,”Free Trade Zones,” and “Special Economic Zones”. 

Often they have been euphemistically labelled as “Industrial Parks” and “Urban Enterprise Zones” too.Now, calling them ” NIMZ” (National Investment and Manufacturing Zones) as per the new policy,is nothing but old wine in new bottles !! 

As rightly said by you,the skeleton needs a brain to function and as seen over last 4-5 decades or more,merely labelling them by different names has not resulted in significant impact on the functioning of such units, located in such areas. 

Unless “Single Window Scheme ” is seriously implemented in all states for granting all registrations,approvals,NOCs,sanctions,certificates etc to an Industrial Unit,from one single authority,things will not be speeded up and entrepreneurs will have to keep running from one department to another as is prevalent at present. 

Further,number of 70 odd legislations now required to be complied with, need to be drastically cut down to a manageable number for smoother compliance.All concerned Ministries need to take a re-look at our antique laws and provisions made since “ancient” times. 

Power adequacy ,transportation facilities,sanitation,effluent treatment,waste disposal,skilled manpower availability,banking at door step of such industrial estates,etc have been perrenial problems till date,and unless these are sorted out,merely cosmetic surgery, by change of name or  nomenclature, is not going to give effective results.Where there is a will there is a way !

J S BROCA

New Delhi 

Today’s  issue of FE contains an abriged version of my letter in the Letters to the Editor column.

To read the letter directly on line,go to : http://www.financialexpress.com/news/letters-to-the-editor/806393/0

Here is the letter as published :

Letters to the editor

The Financial Express
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011 
 
: What’s in a name?  
Apropos of the editorial ‘Manufacturing India’ (FE, June 10), industrial units were, not long ago, located in what were called Industrial Estates. Later, their name was changed to Free Zones, Free Trade Zones and Special Economic Zones. Often, they have been euphemistically labelled as Industrial Parks also. Now, calling them NMIZ is nothing but old wine in a new bottle! The skeleton needs a brain to function and, as seen over last 4-5 decades or more, merely labelling them by different names has not resulted in significant impact on the functioning of such units. Unless “Single Window Scheme” is seriously implemented in all states for granting all registrations, approvals, NOCs, sanctions, certificates, etc, to an industrial unit, from one single authority, things will not speed up. Power adequacy, transportation facilities, sanitation, waste disposal, skilled manpower availability, banking at door step, etc, have been perrenial problems and, unless these are sorted out, merely cosmetic surgery, by change of name, is not going to be the answer. Where there is a will there is a way!

JS Broca, New Delhi

Your reactions/responses are welcome !

 
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