The Hindu Business Line : Nabard's new project to create jobs in Dakshina Kannada dist

THE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is looking at reaping the potential of non-farm sector in Dakshina Kannada district with DRIP (District Rural Industries Project).

The project, which was launched by the Nabard Chief General Manager, Mr B.B. Mohanty, here on Tuesday, is aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities in rural areas.

Mr Mohanty made it clear that DRIP is not a subsidy-oriented project. It is based on participatory planning. Bankers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Government should come together for its successful implementation.

Stressing the need for more innovative packages under DRIP, he said that tourism-related projects in Dakshina Kannada could be grouped. Rural housing, establishment of godowns and cold chain units can also be considered under the project. Nabard has supported nearly 100 rural entrepreneurship development programmes last year.

On agriculture sector, Mr Mohanty said that a wider perspective is essential for this as agriculture-based rural micro enterprises play a vital role in rural development.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, Mr H.G. Shivananda Murthy, who presided over the function, said that rural industries were not given due importance. Apart from encouraging rural industries, attention should also be given for marketing the products. As in other industries, prices of rural industrial products should be fixed at the production site itself.

Entrepreneurs should look at the availability of raw materials before setting up a rural industry, he said, and quoted the example of beedi industry. Beedi industry is not doing well in the district, as the raw materials have to be sourced from outside the State.

Rather than exporting raw materials such as medicinal plants and forest produce, rural industrial units should consider value-addition through processing, he said.

Urging the need for making agriculture an attractive proposition, Mr Murthy said that it should be accorded the status of service sector.

The Principal of regional training college of Nabard, Mangalore, Mr S.T. Raghuraman; the Assistant General Manager, Nabard, Mangalore, Dr Venugopal Arikeri; and the Assistant General Manager of Syndicate Bank, Mr B.K. Bhat, were present.

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