Govt sets up agency to modernise, promote bicycle industry
18 Nov 2019
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Government of India has set up a development council for bicycle industry for vision planning in design, engineering and manufacturing of lighter and smarter bicycles. This will help the domestic industry manufacture value added, safe and faster premium bicycles that are comparable with global standards for both exports and domestic market.
The 23-member council will be headed by secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the council will have a term of two years. Joint secretary, light engineering industry division in the DPIIT will be member-secretary.
The council will have nine ex-officio members from DPIIT and the Department of Commerce, ministries of housing and urban affairs, environment, forest and climate change, health and family welfare, road transport and highways, skill development and entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium enterprises and Bureau of Indian Standards. The council will also have seven expert domain members and four nominated members. The terms of ex-officio members shall be co-terminus with their official posting. Other members may be co-opted, as required, by the chairperson of the council.
The council will stimulate value chain and fuel accelerated demand growth of `Make-in-India’ through:
- Improved competitiveness and level of services;
- Transformation of Indian bicycle technology and its value chain;
- Ensuring development of holistic eco-system through close, coordinated and continuous stakeholder persuasion;
- Boosting bicycle demand, inter-alia, by ensuring enabling safe and segregated cycling infrastructure and operations; and
- Enhancing export competitiveness of bicycle through support of schemes and favourable trade policies.
The government will undertake campaigns to popularise the incredible benefits of cycling through concerned ministries/ departments such as ministry of health, environment and forest, petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban affairs.
The programme will help development of medium and small industries to usher in a new mind-set through innovative schemes in a structured and synergetic way.
It will also help in the development of skilled human resources development for bicycle manufacturing and repair shops.
The council will identify and study best international practices and successful story to adopt for bicycle manufacturing, recycling and infrastructure development in India.
