Industrial development in West Bengal is being discussed far and wide in and outside the state. Government of West Bengal is making efforts to lure investments in the State. Industrial activities in the state have also shown signs of improvement over last few years. But it is definitely far below the desired level. Why is it so ? Why is it not gaining momentum ? The issue may be probed into.
About a few years ago a few industrialists from Maharashtra and Gujarat were heard saying that industrial development in West Bengal would now take place at rapid pace as the Chief Minister of the State had made an open statement stressing the importance of improving the productivity. Some of the local industrialists with head quarters in Calcutta and setting up some grass root ventures outside the State (without any specific advantage to take the projects in far off locations) when asked why they were not setting up the units in or around Calcutta (as this would enable them to have better control of these units from Calcutta), did not show their willingness to do so either because of their past unpleasant labour-related experience or their lack of confidence about the adequacy of congenial atmosphere in the State for making new investments. The point which is to highlighted is that we have not been able to win the confidence of the industrialists to make fresh investment in the State. This is the key issue coming in the way of rapid industrial revival of the State. It is not because of the, lack of incentives of attractive financial packages that the investors are not attracted towards the State for making fresh investment. Quite a number of industrialists outside the state are watching the situation in West Bengal (as it is having some unique advantages and potentials for industrial growth) as to how the new units which are coming up in the State perform (with special reference to co-operation from labour and productivity and whether timely cooperation and assistance are obtained from the various administrative agencies.
The first and foremost issue to be addressed in bringing back the confidence of the investors for setting up industrial ventures is to create a congenial atmosphere. The first step to achieve this end is to adopt a positive attitude. An attitude that we are capable of bringing about a complete turn around of industrial scene in the State. No doubt it is an extremely difficult job in the context of acute unemployment problems in the State. But there is no other alternative. It is an involved exercise demanding the attention and co-operation of each and every person concerned with industrial development. The common people (work force in particular) is to be persuaded that they will have to give each and every type of co-operation to help the new industrial ventures implement the projects in the quickest possible time and operate the unite smoothly and effectively thereafter. It is to be understood that each and every unemployed person in the area cannot be provided with jobs in such units. The issue of local employment is already being tackled effectively by local bodies to choose the local people to be employed in such units. But once the issue regarding local employment is sorted out, the workers should give their best not under any compulsion but they will have to do it willingly of their own.
Various sanctions/clearances/approvals/information are required from local bodies like Panchayats, Municipalities, Land Registrar, Electricity Boards etc. There are delays in obtaining required information/approvals from these local bodies not because the concerned people in giving such clearances/approvals are inefficient or ignorant but because they are not aware of the importance of quick disposals towards industrialisation of the State. The co-operation of each and every employee of the various administrative agencies-from the lowest employee to the highest officer-is indispensable in disposal of such cases. We will have to make the concerned people realise that by delaying quick disposal of cases they don't gain anything except satisfying their personal ego or deriving sadistic pleasure, but the State will definitely lag more and more behind in industrial development causing more and more unemployment.
Negative attitude does not pay. Why do the industrialists flock in Gujarat for making fresh investment ? There are many reasons. But one important reason is the absence of negative attitude amongst concerned people -whether they are newly recruited employees for a unit adopting the latest state-of-the-art technology or lowest paid employee of a local autonomous body. Are we incapable of adopting this culture ? Definitely not. An executive of one reputed multinational company remarked more than ten years ago that amongst various units it had, productivity in West Bengal was highest. Why then we hear that industrialisation in West Bengal has suffered because of low productivity ? Are these two reports not contradictory ? No, both are correct. In the first case the concerned people were motivated and in the second there is no motivation.
When can we start the process of motivation ? Possibly this has already started. But this is to be intensified. We will have to realise that real satisfaction lies in facing the biggest challenge which has confronted us with the challenge of pushing the State forward towards industrialisation. The first move in tackling this challenge is to remove the stumbling block of inactivity by making sincere efforts to give our best performance with a smile. Once we are able to achieve this task-the gateway of industrialisation will be opened. Investors will not mind so much even if there is less incentive or less attractive financial package or less availability of infrastructural facilities. We would provide the best infrastructural facilities the best packages - we will provide people with positive attitude, people with determination. We will have no dearth of projects and no dearth of finance - if we are able to bring about this change in our attitude.

Contributed by
Dr G Goswami
Chairman and Managing Director
Industrial Investment Bank of India