The seventh edition of the state's biggest industry and consumer fair, Enterprise Jharkhand-2012, kicked off at Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur on Friday with a thrust on balanced growth where entrepreneurial progress did not come at the expense of the common man.
Inclusive growth was the mantra of chief minister Arjun Munda, who inaugurated the five-day fair organised jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (Jharkhand) and state industry department, with 100-plus stalls displaying products of 150 companies.
"Instead of only looking after ways to improve production, the corporate sector should look for ways to uplift the lot of people also," Munda said, signalling that while his government encouraged industry, it wanted a holistic scorecard.
Admitting the mistakes committing by past governments of erstwhile Bihar and Jharkhand, Munda said that the people of the region had not developed in proportion to the mineral resources extracted from there region.
In fact, mineral-rich but miserably poor has been Jharkhand's lasting image since its formation.
The chief minister said it was high time for change.
"Our natural resources are depleting due to rampant mining and industrial growth, but we have failed to link this with tribal uplift. Let us not forget that huge economic disparities give rise to social unrest, which often shows up violently through Maoist violence," said Munda.
He, however, praised the CII for taking up social responsibility projects.
"I am glad to note that the CII is serious about holistic development. It recently arranged a free enhancement programme at Gumla for tribal youths. We want them to arrange similar training events elsewhere," he said.
CII (Jharkhand) chairman Anand Sen, also Tata Steel vice-president (total quality management), said Enterprise-2012, with the theme of business for livelihoods, aimed at affirmative action.
Meets related to empowering people with entrepreneurship, interaction between corporate firms and NGOs will be held, besides the usual ones on engineering and manufacturing innovations. "This time, we have a model hut with tribal artisans who are demonstrating their skills live. Stone carving, bamboo crafts, honey collection and dokra painting are major draws," said Sen.
Munda's inclusive dream perhaps struck the right chord with visitors at the fair, as the tribal hut vied for attention with a high-end truck driving simulator.
Even the chief minister tried out the Technosim T180, developed for Tata Motors for its truck (model 2515) by Tecknotrove Systems, which allowed trainees to use real equipment in a virtually simulated world.
"It teaches safety lessons to truckers," said senior executive Sanjay Kumar of Tata Motors. Earlier, the device was displayed at Auto Expo, New Delhi, and International Mining Exhibition in Calcutta.
Can Munda bring inclusive growth on ground?
Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
There are no comments yet