Banks not cooperating in east UP: union minister

Allahabad, May 6 (UNI) Union minister for small scale industries Mahabir Prasad today lamented that banks were not cooperating with the government in east Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking at a seminar 'Poorvanchal Vision 2006' organised by the National Small Industries Corporation Limited here, Mr Prasad asked the industrialists to submit the list of such banks to him, so that action could be taken against them.

He observed that eastern UP districts had played a vital role in the freedom struggle, but lacked in development. ''Unfortunately people in the region are not interested in establishing industries.'' The union minister claimed the goverment was providing all basic facilities including infrastructure and cheap loans, but no one was coming forward to avail them.

''The government is concerned about the development of east UP and people must themselves come forward.'' Mr Prasad claimed the government had opened a number of centres to provide training in various trades to the youth belonging to ST, SC and backward class.

The minister maintained he was not against big industries, but ''they were not going to solve unemployment problem.'' ''Only small scale industries including Khadi can solve the problem of unemployment and poverty.'' He claimed the majority of Indian exports comprised small scale industry items.

''The Indian economy can be improved by developing small scale industries and Khadi Gramyodyog.'' UNI JL VS SB KP1739