New Delhi, Dec. 6: The DoNER ministry has asked two sick public sector undertakings (PSUs) under its administrative control to prepare a revival plan that would help minimise the losses being incurred continuously for the past several years.

In a series of meetings held over the past few days, the ministry has asked the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (Neramac) and the North East Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited to prepare a blueprint that would help turn the loss-making concerns into profitable ventures.

Of the two, the losses suffered by Neramac are much less, standing at Rs 4.15 lakh between 1998 and 2004. The handloom corporation incurred a loss of Rs 5.3 crore between 2000 and 2003 but sources said there was room for a turnaround since the Northeast offers enough scope to expand its operational base.

Both the PSUs have been asked to submit the proposals by January, which would then be discussed and considered for approval.

Of the four PSUs under DoNER, only the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (Nedfi) is running at a profit. A decision has already been taken to shut down the Sikkim Mining Corporation and a voluntary retirement scheme is currently being worked out for the employees by the ministry in consultation with the state government.

Sources said among the two sick undertakings, the possibility of Neramac?s revival appeared ?brighter? since the losses were less and there was enough scope for the marketing of products from the region both within and outside the country.

Neramac has the mandate to develop agro-horticultural processing and marketing for an overall socio-economic development of the region. Apart from its regular commercial activities, it has been organising a series of fruit preservation training programmes, which are aimed at boosting entrepreneurial skills in food processing considered to have immense potential in the Northeast. As many as 15 such programmes have been planned for the current year (2005-6) in different districts.

Sources admitted the possibility of an expansion of the PSU?s food processing unit in Tripura and more plants like the ginger-processing unit at Byrnihat in Meghalaya set up recently.

The revival plan is an indication of the ministry?s eagerness to cut down on losses and reduce wasteful expenditure that could be diverted to development projects.