Lok Sabha Question No. 1225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Industrially Backward Districts of West Bengal
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1225. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 9 TH     FEBRUARY, 2022.

## INDUSTRIALLY BACKWARD DISRICTS OF WEST BENGAL

## 1225.  DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has expanded the list of industrially backward districts in the country including West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the district-wise details of schemes being implemented to promote industrialization  through  DPIIT  in West  Bengal  including  North  Dinajpur  and South Dinajpur districts, during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to initiate 'One District One Product' scheme in each district of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other new initiatives/steps being taken by the Government for strengthening of industrial sector in the country with special reference to West Bengal?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a): Sir, State Governments decide on identification of Industrially Backward Districts  in  their  States.  Government  of  West  Bengal  has  classified developed areas and backward areas into A, B, C, D and E zones, under the  scheme of  'Banglashree for  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises. Districts of North and South Dinajpur of West Bengal fall under Zone D.

As per Gazette Notification No. 1543/MSMET-18011/1/2020 dated 22nd July,  2020  of  Government  of  West  Bengal,  an  eligible  micro  or  small enterprise,  located  in  Zone  D,  is  entitled  to  State  Capital  Investment subsidy, interest subsidy on term loan, etc.,  and other details, as available on the following link to the said notification-https://wbmsme.gov.in

- (b) to (d): The  Central  Government  has  initiated  the  One-District-One-Product (ODOP) in different States/UTs. ODOP is seen as a transformational step towards  realizing  the  true  potential  of  a  district,  fueling  its  economic growth, generating employment and rural entrepreneurship.

ODOP initiative  is  operationally  merged  with  'Districts  as  Export  Hub (DEH)' initiative under DGFT, Department of Commerce. The objective of  DEH  is  to  identify  products/  services  across  a  district  (including  GI products) which has possible export potential. State Export Promotion Committees (SEPCs) and District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs)  have  been  constituted  in  all  the  36  States/UTs  to  provide support  for  export  promotion  activities  and  address  and  reduce  the bottlenecks for attaining export growth in these districts.

State-wise  /  district-wise  list  of  products  identified  under  'District  as Export Hub' initiative, including products from various districts of West Bengal is available on the following link:

https://exporthubs.gov.in/images/pdf/Final%20Product%20List.pdf

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