Srinagar 11 january (KNS): The Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has hailed the Lt. Governor Sh. Manoj Sinha for obtaining the much needed Central industrial package-2021 for Jammu and Kashmir from the central government.
Statement issued to news agency-kashmir news service (KNS) reads, An extra-ordinary Executive Council meeting of FCIK was called for and attended by Presidents of the associations representing all the estates, districts and identified segments of industry from across Kashmir division to discuss the expectations from the new package.
The members expressed their gratitude to the Lt. Governor for putting in his hectic efforts in convincing the central government that industrial sector in J&K had been craving for real support from them and obtaining Centre approval for a significant package of 28400 Crores for existing and prospective industrialization. The members also appreciated the intention and vision of the Lt. Governor for promotion of industry equitably in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir and as such it was important that the package announced fulfilled his vision and does not miss the targeted objectives.
While analyzing components of the package, the members observed that some of the incentives incorporated in the scheme were worth appreciating but at the same time some vital incentives which should have found a place in it were missing causing apprehensions on the achievement of the ambitious objectives.
The members acknowledged that affording differential incentives to different zones had the potential to take industrialization programme to far flung areas for an equitable, balanced and sustainable socio-economic development of the region as was stated by the Lt. Governor. The members regretted that the previous policy of 2002 that provided for uniform incentives lacked this basic understanding which led to inequitable growth and concentrated investment in just 3 out of 22 districts of erstwhile state with about 90% of the incentives going there only. The members, however, stressed on the plea that entire Kashmir division and all other districts having communication, tough weather and other disadvantages needed to be put under B zone.
The members also debated the issue of job creation and observed that whereas the new enterprises might take time to complete their ventures and initiate process of employment, the existing enterprises, if supported, had the potential of generating jobs immediately besides putting their fully or partially locked up assets to use.
The members also observed that along with the central package, industry would require many interventions at the UT level for facilitating and boosting the morale of entrepreneurs.
The Executive Council approved Constitution of an expert committee for preparation of a detailed data based technical analytical report of the central package along with the suggestions with regard to any change or amendment needed in the package. The members said that it was all the more necessary that government make desired changes and amendments in the policy before issuance of the notification and guidelines. The members hoped that government will receive and act on the suggestion in true spirit of achieving the objectives with the acknowledgement that the outcome of any scheme was much more Speaking at the occasion, the President FCIK Shahid Kamili acknowledged that the new
industrial policy despite having many fruitful provisions had some deficiencies to meet the targeted objectives. He presented a detailed account of his meetings with concerned ministers at the centre as well as UT authorities in the meeting and said that almost all the difficulties and aspirations of local industry was brought to their notice. He regretted that despite assurances some of the vital interventions required for revival and growth of industry were missing in the package. The President, however, said that he had full faith in the Lt. Governor who was very eager and enthusiastic to get the existing industry out of stress and trouble besides paving way for prospective entrepreneurship to usher a new era of holistic and balanced industrial development in the region. He hoped that the data based analytical report to be submitted by the organisation to the Lt. Governor would also include suggestions for necessary changes and amendments in the new policy. He said that the announced outlay for the scheme was expected to cover all aspirations of the existing as well as prospective enterprises without asking for any additional allocations though some other issues of the industry could be approved at the UT level.(KNS)