Rajasthan government rolled out nine new policies to facilitate investment in Rajasthan, which is organising Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit from 9-11 December to attract investors from across the globe.
Senior IAS officers ACS Energy Alok, principal secretary industries Ajitabh Sharma, chairman RREC Alok Gupta, managing director RREC Om Kasera, principal secretary mines and petroleum T Ravikanth, tourism secretary Ravi Jain and IT secretary Archana Singh worked round the clock to churn out investor-friendly policies, which are being claimed to be tailormade enabling the centre's mandate.
Out of nine policies, four have been drafted in the renovated Udyog Bhawan, which houses RIICO, BIP, industries department, small scale industries corporation and finance corporation among others.
Principal secretary industries Ajitabh Sharma, who nowadays is said to be ‘sleeping with work', is directly involved in four new policies which promise to attract investors in hordes.
MSME Policy -2024
The Rajasthan MSME Policy-2024 will be help micro small and medium enterprises eligible for global competition. The policy has incentives which includes additional 2 per cent interest subsidy on loans, assistance up to Rs 15 lakh on raising funds from SME exchange and grant up to Rs. 50 per cent or Rs 5 lakh on advanced technology and software.
Export Promotion Policy
Rajasthan government intends to increase the state's exports to Rs 1.50 lakh crore in the next 5 years. New entrepreneurs will also be encouraged to become exporters through Chief Minister's Export Growth Campaign.
In this policy, exporters will be given assistance, financial benefits and grants for becoming competitive in exports.
One district one product (ODOP) Policy
Rajasthan One District One Product Policy – 2024 is aimed at promoting specific products and crafts. The implementation of the ODOP policy will boost the economy of the districts, as well as increase the income of artisans, artisans, farmers and manufacturers.
The policy grants assistance, financial incentives and grants similar to MSMEs and of margin money of 25 per cent or a maximum of Rs. 15 lakh to new micro enterprises and 15 per cent or a maximum of Rs 20 lakh to small enterprises.
Integrated Cluster Development Scheme
This scheme is being brought in the state to enhance the productivity, quality and efficiency of enterprises working in handicrafts, handloom and MSME sectors and develop them in line with the global market. Under this scheme, facilities such as training, raw material depot, collective production/processing and product testing will be developed through Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in the existing clusters of handicrafts, handloom and micro and small enterprises of the state.
The scheme also has various financial incentives and subsidies to promote small and micro enterprises.
Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality – (AVGC-XR) Policy
The policy provides production grants to animated films, games and comics made in the state. Additional incentives will be given to start-ups and enterprises focussing on local culture and content creation. Atal Innovation Studios and Accelerators will be set up to promote innovation in this area. These studios will be equipped with coding, VFX lab and advanced computing facilities.
Tourism Policy
New tourism policy is focussed at promoting units such as eco tourism unit, film city, heritage restaurant, hotel housing, indoor/outdoor play zone, integrated tourism village, motel/way-side facilities, resort housing, rural tourism unit and tourism start-ups.
In this policy, a provision has been made to alloate government land for tourism unit projects with a new investment of a minimum of Rs. 100 crore. Land belonging to or coming within the tourism unit may be allotted government land up to 10 per cent of their land at once at agricultural or residential DLC rates.
The policy has hosts of incentives and exemptions to boost tourism in the state.
Integrated Clean Energy Policy -2024
Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024 has been rolled out to promote power generation from non convention energy.
The new policy allows for increasing renewable energy capacity to 125 GW by 2030, promotion of floating, reservoir top and canal top solar energy projects, inclusion of large hydropower projects including pump storage projects and small hydropower projects started after March 8, 2019, and solar rooftops up to 80 per cent of transformer capacity in the net metering regime.
The policy aims to promote biogas, bio CNG and establish a green hydrogen valey for 2000 KTPA green hydrogen production by 2030, and a minimum of 1 GW electrolyser manufacturing unit.
Rajasthan Mineral Policy – 2024
The new mineral policy has provisions to increase private sector participation, auction of mineral blocks with pre-embedded permits, halving of bid security in tribal areas and strengthening the post-auction sale with an aim to increase revenue and create new employment opportunities.
In this policy, emphasis has been given on developing mineral directories and sand portals to bring transparency in gravel mining and simplify the concession rules of minor minerals.
Rajasthan M-Sand Policy -2024
For a cheaper alternative of bajri, the new M-Send policy has been rolled out to focus establishment of M-Send units in the state.
The previous requirement for setting up an M-Send unit with 3 years of experience, net worth of Rs. 3 crore and turnover of Rs. 3 crore has been abolished.
The royalty payable on overburden has been reduced by half, while at the time of auction, 5 plots will be reserved and allocated instead of having two plots for the M-Send unit.
There will be mandatory use of 25 percent M-Sand in supply of gravel demand in government and government-funded construction which will raise the demand of M-Sand.
Prakash Bhandari is a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience. He has worked with The Times of India for 30 years and contributed to leading publications as well as international news agency AFP.
