625 acres for industrial estates identified in Kashmir; Proposes 1,200 acres for Jammu
NAVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Responding to the concerns over less employment to local youth in the industrial units being established especially in Jammu region, the government has assured safeguarding interests of the local youth as those setting up industries in J&K will have to provide employment to local youth.
BJP MLA Rajiv Jasroita on Wednesday while seeking details of salient features of industrial policy of J&K in Legislative Assembly, alleged that only 20 percent local youth is given employment in the industrial units. While in other states 80 percent of local youth are given employment preference.
He further claimed that in the new industrial policy there is no mention of employing local youth. NC MLA Ajaz Jan however pointed out these are the shortcomings of Abrogating Article 370.
Deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary while acknowledging the concern said, “This is the genuine concern expressed by the member. In the last 6 to 10 local industries have suffered a lot. Nothing was done for the employment of local youth. We are committed to changing that and our government is not against industrial development but not at the expense of locals”. He said those who set up industries in Jammu and Kashmir will have to provide employment to local youth in the region.
“Those (investors) who will set up industries in Jammu and Kashmir will have to provide employment to local youth in the region,” Choudhary said.
Jasrotia however demanded an order from government for ensuring employment to local youth in the industrial units. He also urged government not to disturb the habituated area and instead develop the land in industrial areas.
Deputy CM said the Omar Abdullah government is committed to ensuring no injustice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He further said, “It is the endeavour of this government that we will not allow the lands of the people of J&K to be given to outsiders. Whatever is right will be done.” He said the local youth have a right to jobs in industries.
Earlier Choudhary informed the House that about 5000 kanal of land has been identified for establishment of industrial estates in different districts of Kashmir division while intends for 9661 kanal of land has been submitted to the Revenue department in Jammu division. He said that the intends of 14956. 15 kanal land have been placed for establishment of Industrial estates in different districts of Jammu division while 5532.19 kanal land has been transferred during the past two years in Kashmir.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that focus sectors for Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30 included Manufacturing, IT and ITeS, Agriculture and Food Processing, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure and Real Estate, Skill Development, Tourism and Hospitality, Film Tourism, Horticulture and Post-Harvest Management, Renewable Energy, Handloom and Handicrafts and Agriculture.
He said that package of incentives, including up to 100 percent subsidy components, turnover incentives, entrepreneurship and skill development fund, ease of doing business, investment promotion agency for promotion of investment and exports besides establishing industrial grievance forum are among various salient features of Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that several important reforms and measures are being implemented by the departments like Health & Drug Controller, Agriculture, Pollution Control Board, Public Health Engineering, Labour, Forest, Power Development Department, Fire, High Courts, Housing & Urban Development, Industries and Commerce to ensure a smoother regulatory ecosystem. These reforms are being taken up in areas like labour, property registration, single window clearance system and central inspection framework under District level BRAP.
“Various policy initiatives are being taken up by Jammu and Kashmir government to boost the industry sector and making it as investor friendly destination. These included New Central Sector Scheme, 2021, J&K Industrial Policy 2021-30, J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy, J&K Private Industrial Estate Development Policy, Policy for Promotion of Foreign Investment in Industrial Sector in J&K 2022, J&K Single Window Rules 2021, Turnover Incentive Scheme 2021, J&K Wool Processing, Handloom and Handicraft Policy 2020, Financial Support Scheme for Cooperatives/Self Help Groups 2020, Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers, Karkhandar Scheme for Development of Craft Sector in J&K 2021, Export Subsidy Scheme 2021, Revised Education Scheme 2022 for Artisans/Weavers of Handicrafts and Handloom Department and J&K Start Up Policy 2024-27”, informed the Deputy Chief Minister.
The Deputy Minister said that the special marks have been kept in the evaluation criteria of land allotment applications, so that Women get a higher merit by virtue of their participation. He said that sanction has been accorded to establishment of an exclusive Industrial Estate for Women’ on 329 kanal land, out of 1347 kanal land at Seen, Thakran, District Udhampur under the Prime Ministers’ Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for setting up of new micro enterprises.
He added that any business enterprise having 51 percent stake held by women entrepreneurs shall qualify to apply for allotment in the designated industrial estate. He said that the department has also granted short term/disposal permits to various executing agencies of National Highway Authority of India, NHIDCL, IRCON, the Ring Road, PWD (R&B), PMGSY, Irrigation and Flood Control, Airport Authority of India and others engaged in developments projects of National/UT importance during the past 2 years.
He said that the department has granted 36 limestone mining leases, 24 mineral gypsum mining leases besides 202 mining leases of e-auctioned minor mineral blocks. Besides, it has reserved/granted 8 mining leases in favour of J&K Public Sector Undertakings (J&K Mineral Limited and J&K PCC limited), 6 mining leases on private land, 2 quarry licenses on private land, one cluster quarry on state land and 23 quarry licenses in favour of government projects for providing key construction material to various developmental projects across J&K.
