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To promote a healthier lifestyle and cycling as a mode of transport, the All India Cycle Manufacturers’ Association (AICMA) on Wednesday pitched for policy mechanisms to make the cycle manufacturing industry globally competitive.
In a joint report ‘Pedalling towards a greener India’ with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which was launched on Wednesday by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan here, the association suggested waiving taxes on cycles that cost less than ₹5,000 for low income population. The Government should also ensure easy availability of cycle finance by including cycles under priority sector lending as an income generating asset for households, it said
The Minister said that 40-45 per cent of disease burden of the world is due to physical activity. “While cycles must be promoted, the affordability issue also needs to be taken care of,” Vardhan added.
The reports also added that there should be a provision for and maintenance of cycling infrastructure in cities.
Urban transport Pankaj Munjal, co-Chairman, Hero Cycles, and Member, AICMA, said: “India needs to learn from countries like The Netherlands, Germany, Paris, and so on, where cycling is a popular mode of urban transport.”
To enhance export competitiveness of the industry, the report recommends reducing import duty on parts not manufactured in India, freight subsidy for domestic freight.
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