Nokia’s Tamil Nadu plant likely to re-open, indicates PM Modi
4 March 2015 12:14 AM GMT
“Your concern is right. 25000 people were rendered jobless there,” Modi said in Rajya Sabha while responding to the issue highlighted by CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury about the closure of the Nokia plant.
The Prime Minister, while replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, said the plant had to shut down because of actions of the previous UPA government and not because
of the present government.
“Let me assure you. We have started efforts in this direction (to restart the unit). The result of this effort will be that in the coming days, Nokia plant should start functioning again and people will get employment,” Modi said.
The Nokia plant, based near Chennai, had started operations in 2006 and shut down operations on November one last year.
“We want that for employment generation, a push needs to be given to infrastructure development,” Modi added.
He also spoke of his government’s initiative ‘Digital India’ and said that at a time a theory of “haves and have nots” was believed and he feels that Digital Divide is also a reason that can lead to much backwardness and poverty.
He said he wants that a situation of ‘Digital Divide’ should not be allowed to come up in the country. He said that there exist nearly 90 crore mobile phones in the country and added that he wants to usher in “Mobile Governance.”
Speaking further, Modi added that the youth in North Eastern states were fluent in english and asked whether like other major cities they should also get BPO centres, so that there can be employment
for youth.
Centre doesn’t plan to set up e-commerce watchdog
The government no Tuesday said that at present there is no proposal under consideration for a separate regulatory framework for the e-commerce sector.
“Presently, there is no proposal under consideration of the government for a separate regulatory frame work for e-commerce,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Flipkart’s Big Billion Day sale on October 6 last year had raised concerns among small and big traders and after that few companies have come under scanner of CCI and Enforcement Directorate. Among others, traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had demanded the Commerce and Industry Ministry take steps to monitor and regulate online businesses.
The minister also said that a case was registered against e-commerce companies at the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in October last year on the allegations of anti-competitive conduct. “A case has been filed on 20.10.2014 at CCI alleging an anti-competitive conduct of online retailers and e-commerce/portal companies,” Sinha said. Further, the minister said that e-commerce companies are subjected to monitoring and scrutiny with reference to any service tax liability.
“E-commerce companies are liable for paying income tax like any other company engaged in trading. The cases picked up for scrutiny by the income tax department during a particular year may also include e-commerce companies if these fall within the ambit of scrutiny selection criteria for that year,” he added.
The Prime Minister, while replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, said the plant had to shut down because of actions of the previous UPA government and not because
of the present government.
“Let me assure you. We have started efforts in this direction (to restart the unit). The result of this effort will be that in the coming days, Nokia plant should start functioning again and people will get employment,” Modi said.
The Nokia plant, based near Chennai, had started operations in 2006 and shut down operations on November one last year.
“We want that for employment generation, a push needs to be given to infrastructure development,” Modi added.
He also spoke of his government’s initiative ‘Digital India’ and said that at a time a theory of “haves and have nots” was believed and he feels that Digital Divide is also a reason that can lead to much backwardness and poverty.
He said he wants that a situation of ‘Digital Divide’ should not be allowed to come up in the country. He said that there exist nearly 90 crore mobile phones in the country and added that he wants to usher in “Mobile Governance.”
Speaking further, Modi added that the youth in North Eastern states were fluent in english and asked whether like other major cities they should also get BPO centres, so that there can be employment
for youth.
Centre doesn’t plan to set up e-commerce watchdog
The government no Tuesday said that at present there is no proposal under consideration for a separate regulatory framework for the e-commerce sector.
“Presently, there is no proposal under consideration of the government for a separate regulatory frame work for e-commerce,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Flipkart’s Big Billion Day sale on October 6 last year had raised concerns among small and big traders and after that few companies have come under scanner of CCI and Enforcement Directorate. Among others, traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had demanded the Commerce and Industry Ministry take steps to monitor and regulate online businesses.
The minister also said that a case was registered against e-commerce companies at the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in October last year on the allegations of anti-competitive conduct. “A case has been filed on 20.10.2014 at CCI alleging an anti-competitive conduct of online retailers and e-commerce/portal companies,” Sinha said. Further, the minister said that e-commerce companies are subjected to monitoring and scrutiny with reference to any service tax liability.
“E-commerce companies are liable for paying income tax like any other company engaged in trading. The cases picked up for scrutiny by the income tax department during a particular year may also include e-commerce companies if these fall within the ambit of scrutiny selection criteria for that year,” he added.
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