Chandigarh, Oct 29 (IANS) Jalandhar, a globally recognised hub for sports goods and equipment manufacturing, is upbeat and optimistic about brighter prospects in the near future, hoping that the government initiative will create new job opportunities and strengthen the livelihoods of those in the business.
The reason behind their enlivened sentiment is the Central government’s approval of the Khelo India sports goods manufacturing scheme, which aims to set up dedicated sports manufacturing zones in the country.
The Union Cabinet, a day ago, sanctioned an outlay of Rs 1800 crore to strengthen capacity building, research and innovation, and skill development in the sports goods manufacturing segment.
According to market experts, the new initiative by the Central government is set to give a boost to small-scale enterprises, create new employment opportunities, and steer the sports sector in a new direction of growth.
In Punjab’s Jalandhar, many stakeholders in the sports industry welcomed the move and said that this will foster the growth of small-scale manufacturing units and add vigour to their existing capacity.
Not just the large-scale enterprises but also small business owners and those operating from their homes are likely to benefit.
According to industry representatives, businesses faced several challenges recently, including due to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) impact, rising raw material costs, and a decline in orders. In this context, government support could bring much-needed relief to the sector.
By bringing manufacturing-related work into households, families could secure employment within their own localities. This would likely increase local income levels while simultaneously strengthening Jalandhar’s sports industry.
Various voices in the Industry stated that integrating large manufacturing units with smaller enterprises would allow for the division of labour, potentially creating jobs for more families.
This could also reduce the need for young people to migrate to other cities in search of employment.
They believe that by increasing job opportunities and enabling youth to find work within their own region, this initiative could help provide them with a positive path forward.
If the small-scale enterprises are integrated with the big stakeholders, it will prove instrumental in reshaping Jalandhar’s sports manufacturing sector and giving it the facelift that it requires.
–IANS
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