The Hindu Business Line : TN CM urged to look into woes of engineering industry

The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers' Association (SIEMA), Coimbatore, has requested the Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, to hold interactive sessions with the representatives of the engineering industry at least once in three months to know about the problems faced by the industry.

In a representation to the Chief Minister, the SIEMA President, Mr C.R. Shanmughasundaram, said this would provide an opportunity to the Government to know about the problems faced by the small units and take steps to redress them.

He said the association has not been given representation in the reconstituted Traders Welfare Board (TWB). The members of the association are involved in the manufacture of motors, pump sets, castings, textile machinery, switches, automobile spare parts, etc. He wanted SIEMA to be given representation in the TWB so that the problems faced by the industry could be brought to the notice of the Government for action.

In another representation to the Chief Minister, Mr Shanmughasundaram pointed out that the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) here was suffering from shortcomings such as inadequate staff, lack of basic infrastructure and lack of modern machinery.

It was learnt that though the Union Government had allotted Rs 1 crore for modernising the ITI, the funds have not been used due to certain procedural issues. He urged the Chief Minister to take necessary action in this regard.

Mr Shanmughasundaram also requested Mr Karunanidhi to permit small-scale units to engage trainees equal to the number of permanent employees to meet the increasing demand for skilled labour. In big industrial units, the factories are permitted to engage trainees even double the number of permanent employees. This would help increase the number of trained workforce and meet the shortage for skilled labour.

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