Title: Need to take corrective measures for revival of co-operative sugar industry in the country.
SHRI SADASHIVRAO DADOBA MANDLIK
(KOLHAPUR): Sir, hasty implementation of major recommendations of Mahajan Commission Report coupled with compulsions of being signatory to WTO agreement has brought the sugar industry on the brink of total collapse and chaos.
The collapse of this industry will spell disaster for rural areas because of a substantial fall in employment, incomes and incidental economic opportunities, and the resultant stagnation all round. It is, therefore, necessary, indeed imperative that instant steps are taken to (i) establish a buffer-stock of sugar, not less than 20 per cent of peak output recorded so far, (ii) impose restrictive tariff and non-tariff barriers on imports of sugar, (iii) promote exports of sugar by subsidisation irrespective of our commitments to WTO, and (iv) provide medium term bailout finance at subsidised rates of interest to tide over the problem of short margins.
Sir, I request through you that the Government should take corrective measures in this regard.