CPI urges Centre to extend PM MITRA scheme to Puducherry

The party also informed the Finance Minister about the non-payment of salaries to numerous workers in government-run cooperative societies.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has requested the Centre to incorporate the Union Territory in the Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) park scheme. In a memorandum addressed to Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, A M Saleem, the party secretary, stated that Puducherry had a rich history of textile mills that had once flourished in the area, providing employment opportunities for local residents. He added that establishing textile parks under the PM MITRA scheme would be suitable for the existing conditions in Puducherry, emphasising that reviving the textile sector would contribute to the socio-economic development of the Union Territory.

The party also informed the Finance Minister about the non-payment of salaries to numerous workers in government-run cooperative societies. According to the memorandum, approximately 40 societies have fallen into financial distress due to mismanagement and corruption, making it impossible for them to pay their workers for a period of approximately 14 months.

The memorandum stated, “Approximately 10,000 families rely on these societies for their survival. We respectfully request the Union government to provide a comprehensive package to revive these societies and corporations. Their revival will assist in increasing the government’s revenue,” said Saleem.

Furthermore, the party urged the Centre to persuade the territorial administration to renegotiate the concession agreement with the Adani Group, the new developer of the Karaikal Port. According to the memorandum, the Union Territory should receive a substantial percentage of the total turnover as dividends.

News source: The Hindu