Bicycle manufacturers have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider the creation of Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) exclusively for the bicycle sector with a view to upgrade and modernise the industry.

Messrs. Manish Tewari MP; S P Oswal; Onkar Singh Pahwa; J R Singal; Suman K Munjal; D S Chawla; S S Bhogal; Jasbir Singh; Gurneet Singh Kular; Upkar Singh; Parveen Aggarwal; Vinod Thapar; Pavan Dewan; Arvind Kumar; Varinder Kapoor were members of the delegation which met PM Mr. Manohman Singh

The demand was raised by a delegation from Ludhiana’s trade and industry which met Mr. Manmohan Singh on January 23, 2010 to apprise him of the problems of the industry in Punjab, and the measures required to overcome the impediments coming in the way of state’s industry, a release said.

The delegation told the PM that TUF had been of great help to the textile industry as it had made it far more competitive. If a similar opportunity is offered to the bicycle industry, it could help it become more competitive and take the Chinese bicycle industry head on, the release said.

Industrialists and representatives of the trade and industry associations have urged the government to end the cross-subsidy for electrical power by 2012 since it was causing almost 20% per cent higher cost of power. Giving details about the meeting, S P Oswal, chairman of the Vardhman Group, claimed that the PM concurred with their view that the cross-subsidy was pointless as subsidy being given to the agriculture sector did not get reflected as a cost factor while fixing the minimum support prices (MSP) for various crops and thus resulted in fixation of a lower MSP.

Industrialists also raised the issue that women should be allowed to work in all three shifts. At present, the women were allowed to work from 6 am to 10 pm only in the industry, barring a few sectors like information technology and aviation. Mr. Singh assured to look into the issue of allowing women workers to work round the clock like male workers. He asked the delegation to send a concept note on the issue for consideration by the government, the release said.

The delegation also urged the PM to consider a special package for Punjab on similar lines as was being given to states like Himachal, Uttarakhand and J and K.