Boost for Bell Metal Industry: CM Promises to Write Off Loans for Entrepreneurs

ARTHEBARI: At a time when the bell metal industry in Assam is facing closure, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a slew of measures to revive the state's second largest handicraft sector.

The bell metal entrepreneurs have been struggling to repay the loan they borrowed earlier. But there is no need to repay either the principal or the interest amount.

Addressing a public meeting in Sarthebari on Sarthebari, Sarma announced a slew of measures to uplift the bell metal town and its people. He said that his government would waive Rs 5 crore loans borrowed by the entrepreneurs. He said that loans would be treated as grants.

"This would act as a huge boost to the bell-metal industry in the state," said Chief Minister Sarma adding that his initiative to revive the industry will also cover the bell metal of Sarthebari.

There was a time when the bell-metal industry was the staple source of income for the entire area. Objects made of bell metal are required mostly for domestic purposes.

But there has been a steep decline in the use of these objects in many parts of the state. The industry has also been losing concern. As on date, the bell metal industry can't sustain entrepreneurs.

During the last couple of years, many entrepreneurs have been finding it difficult to sustain because of rising prices and declining demand. The existing entrepreneurs, mostly, borrowed loans from the banks.

The Chief Minister further promised to upgrade the existing Sarthebari civil hospital into a state-of-the-art hospital equipped with modern medical machinery and adequate healthcare staff.

On his day-long visit to Barpeta, Sarma took part in a number of events, including the opening ceremony of the new inspection bungalow of PWD at Kayakuchi.

He also paid a visit to the Krishnaguru Sewashram at Nasatra locality of the bell-metal town.

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