Old order changeth, and gives way for the New... This has become a reality from the dawn of liberalisation - Be it a grocery store giving way to a super market or a tailoring shops and cloth store giving way to readymade garment.

The pharma industry is also undergoing a similar situation where dedicated plants and large capacities are virtually overtaking multi-sections small units from different parts of India.

What is however disappointing is that the SSI units are being affected by regulations more than the market conditions. Our regulatory authorities have brought in stringent regulatory requirements in the form of amendments to Schedule 'M', all at a time rather than gradually bringing in regulations periodically.

At least now, majority of the units are seriously looking at the implementing the amendments.

Looking at the opportunity in the pharma industry and its tremendous potential, not only in the world market, but also in the growing domestic market, it is evident that majority of the units will not only survive, but thrive in the changed environment even after 2005.

It would have been appropriate had the government taken the views of the small industry organisations with respect to the Drug Price Control order, amendments to Schedule 'M', implication of excise duty and technology upgradation funds. There would have been a lot of encouragement for the SSI pharma industries had the government taken cognizance of the fact that the contribution by the SSI pharma Industry cannot be ignored.

There has been remarks that the amendment to Schedule 'M' will not be implemented by SSI Units and that they would perish. Such remarks only speaks of their ignorance, and the majority of the SSI pharma units are capable of bouncing back to meet the challenges ahead.

The Confederation of Indian Pharma Industry (SSI) has only been seeking Government's intervention to look at seriously the issues relating to DPCO, excise concessions, special funds for factory upgradation etc. CIPI and its members are committed to the implementation of revised Schedule 'M' and would seek the intervention of the government only in other issues as mentioned above.

- (The author is chairman, Confederation of Indian Pharma Industry (CIPI))