Srinagar December 22 (KNS): Valley’s apex industrial body, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir has urged upon J&K Chief Secretary AtalDulloo to revamp and strengthen the industries and commerce department for owning the responsibility of facilitators, sponsors, promoters and collaborators envisaged for it in the vision, mission and core values of the massive programme for industrial growth and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
A formal meeting of FCIK delegation led by President ShahidKamili was held with the Chief Secretary at civil secretariat Srinagar on Friday. The FCIK delegation included advisory / administrative Council members and Presidents of 20 industrial estates from across Kashmir region. Director Handicrafts and Handlooms, Additional Secretary I&C and Special Secretary to Chief Secretary were also present in the meeting.
While making a presentation on the status of existing industry, FCIK regretted that over past many years the various wings of the department instead of handholding the existing and prospective enterprises were acting more of regulators than facilitators. The shortage of staff at all levels of the hierarchy had aggravated the situation as most of the times, as important as General Manager DIC’s positions were assigned to some other officers as additional assignment. FCIK demanded that not only the vacant positions in all departments and PSUs related to industry needed to be filled but more importantly officers posted here must have the vision and dynamism required for running a promotional department.
While demanding reframing of single composite and comprehensive industrial policy with simplified guidelines, FCIK informed thatlot of confusion had been created amoung both the officers and entrepreneurs owing to three different policies currently applicablefor different sets of industrial units. The composite policy so demanded should uniformly be applied to old and new enterprises and take care of genuine amendments aspired by industry.
FCIK made a sound case for providing of due share to the local enterprises from public procurements which was being denied to them for past many years. The Chief Secretary’s attention was drawn towards the Central Government’s Public Procurement Policy, applicable in J&K as well, which provided for reservation of 25% of goods procured by the government for MSMEs besides reserving 358 items for exclusive procurement through MSEs and sought his intervention in implementing the guidelines by respective departments.
While opposing the idea of merging SICOP and SIDCO with single Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), FCIK said that both these corporations had been incepted with different objectives which were crucial for the industry. As such both corporations needed to be reinforced afresh with new vigor and renewed programme to support MSMES particularly in marketing of their products.
FCIK submitted a comprehensive document to the Chief Secretary with the charter of demands which include issues of delayed payments, revival and up-scaling of existing industry, resolving NPA issues, grant of amnesty and one time relaxation of rules.
Responding to the demands of FCIK, the Chief Secretary assured that all their genuine grievances shall be addressed in a time bound manner in near future.(KNS)