Responding to the recent observations made by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan on the industrial scenario in Puducherry, former Member of Parliament and president of Puducherry Maanila Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (PMMMK) M. Ramadass said the Union Territory could progress on the industrial front only with a change of heart among ministers and bureaucrats along with a cultural change in the administration. 

In a statement, the economist-turned politician said it was unfortunate that the present AINRC-BJP government has not formulated an industrial policy for the Union Territory. The last Industrial Policy, 2016 and an Innovation and Startup Policy, 2019 were announced during the previous Congress government. 

“Several developments have happened after the two policies were framed. Sweeping changes in technology, industrial reforms, credit flow, managerial skills, land and labour reforms, fiscal incentives and subsidies, and institutional mechanisms have emerged since 2016. In this backdrop, it is imperative to have a new policy to attract investments,” he said.

Puducherry was ranked 27th in the list of States and Union Territories in the country on Ease of Doing Business ranking. The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has proposed 372 reforms in key areas to ensure transparency, presence of single window system and hassle-free registration of property. However, the Puducherry government failed to make any headway in executing 300 reforms, he said.

The government should ensure that Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act mandating clear timelines was implemented. Labour reforms should be introduced to improve labour relations management. Also, the Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Visakhapatnam industrial corridors should be linked to Puducherry, he said.