Ludhiana bicycle industry seeks inclusion in ODOP scheme

Ludhiana, Mar 10 (KNN) The Ludhiana bicycle industry has urged the Union government to include Bicycles in the centre’s One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.

Inderjit Singh Navug, former president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association said,”Bicycles should be included in the ODOP scheme because our industry is in dire need of support fr0m the Centre.”

Navyug pointed out that the bicycle industry was bearing the brunt of huge influx of “cheap quality” bicycle parts fr0m China, which are jeopardising their business. 

“Despite being world’s second largest manufacturer of bicycles, the city’s total exports are not very high,” he said.

Lauding the centre’s efforts to include the city’s garment industry in the scheme, Harish Kairpal, finance secretary of Knitwear Club said, said: “We are thankful to the government for this, but it is our humble request to start sessions to make businessmen aware about the benefits of the scheme and how to avail them.”

Kairpal informed that centre will support Ludhiana based manufacturers and exporters of readymade garments by helping them reach overseas buyers,and improve supply chains etc.

Under the ODOP scheme, four districts and four products have been selected fr0m Punjab, including readymade garments fr0m Ludhiana, sports goods fr0m Jalandhar, phulkari fr0m Patiala, and re-rolled steel ingots fr0m Fatehgarh Sahib, reported TOI.  (KNN Bureau)