Small Scale Industries in North East India:

Small scale industries (SSI) has been playing an important role in the industrial development of  North East India (NER). There is ample scope for the development of small scale industries in the North-Eastern states. The development of small-scale industries mobilizes local resources and increases income, and generates adequate employment opportunities for the local people. Cottage and small scale industries have great importance in the agrarian economy of NER.

Growth and Contribution of SSI Units in NER:

The state government have taken various steps for the expansion and development of small scale industries in NER. As a result of this, the number of SSI units in NE states have increased considerably. The number of small scale industries (SSI) units in the NER has increased considerably, and their total number had increased from 2,654 in 1971 to 41,309 in 1996. Among the NE states, the maximum number of SSI units is in Assam, nearly 10,210 in 1988, and it increased to 20,035 in 1996.

The total number of SSI units in other NE states in 1996 were 5,188 in Manipur, 7,512 in Tripura, 3,466 in Mizoram, 2,079 in Meghalaya 749 in Nagaland and only 2,280 in Arunachal Pradesh. But unfortunately, a significant number of SSI units of this region have become sick. In June 1997, the total number of sick SSI units in the entire NER was 22,505, out of which the highest number of sick units, i.e., 10,133 were in Assam.

In 1998, out of 5, 82,368 total SSI units in India, 9366 units were in NER. The total number of persons employed in these SSI units in various NE states were 34,475 in Assam, 10,216 in Manipur, 2,771 in Arunachal Pradesh, 3,780 in Meghalaya, 4,223 in Mizoram, 3,059 in Nagaland and 10,069 in Tripura.

The total value of output produced in the SSI units of NE states was ₹30,235 lakh in Assam, ₹2,624 lakh in Arunachal Pradesh, ₹2,988 lakh in Manipur, ₹2,700 lakh in Meghalaya, ₹1,470 lakh in Mizoram, ₹11,247 lakh in Nagaland, and ₹2,957 lakh in Tripura. Measures Undertaken by State Government to Promote SSI Units in NER:

To promote and develop a chain of SSI units in NE states, the State Governments of NER have undertaken ambitious programmes to develop Industrial Estates to provide basic infrastructural facilities to local entrepreneurs. Till the end of March 1996, Assam has developed 13 such industrial estates. Similarly, other NE states have also been developing such industrial estates in different areas of their states. As a result of such promotional steps taken by these states of the region, many small scale industries are gradually being set up in all the NE states in recent years.

As of 2000-01, the total number of SSI units in NER was 63,235, which then increased to 70,579 in 2002-03. Among all the NE states, the maximum number of SSI units were set up in Assam, which was 45,193 units in 2002-03. In 2002-03, the total number of SSI units developed in other NE states were 5,974 units, in Manipur, 5,022 units, in Arunachal Pradesh, 5,293 units in Miziram, 4213 units in Maghalaya, 2513 units, in nagaland, 2020 units, in Tripura and 351 units in Sikkim.

The above data shows the growth of the small scale industries in the North East India.