NEDFi plan for employment generation

Itanagar, Jun 15 (UNI) The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) have prepared a comprehensive action plan for watershed development of the Dirang Valley in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

According to NEDFi sources here today,11 activities like apple, kiwi, walnut and vegetable cultivation besides mushroom production, medicinal and aromatic plants sericulture, dairy, common facility centre, market complex etc have been identified as having potential to generate high income and employment.

The plan which envisages investing in number of agro-horticulture and industrial activities which are identified, based on the potential of the area, will be implemented over a period of 5 years for setting up of 208 units with total outlay of Rs 450 lacs.

Out of this Rs 32 lakhs will be utilised in capacity building or skill upgradation.

The NEDFi's developmental role has under its Techno Economic Development Fund (TEDF), commissioned 54 techno-economic feasibility studies on industry and infrastructure best suited to the region, sources informed.

NEDFi Haat, a well known marketing initiative of NEDFi, has organised a record number of 31 fairs during the financial year 2006 with around 870 participants comprising of rural artisans, small help groups and women entrepreneurs, who are not having access to formal marketing channels.

The units from Arunachal Pradesh had also participated in North East Textile and Handloom fair organized in August 2005 and March 2006.

The Corporation has been able to extend financial assistance to projects in micro finance under which cumulative sanctions have touched Rs 15 crores as on March 31, 2006.

NEDFi has also identified plastic industries as potential sector for the region and is in discussions with Reliance Petrochemicals and Haldia Petrochemicals Limited for joint partnership, sources added.

UNI XC BA AKP1347