Rs 278 cr package for 3 DCCBs of Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu
Big ticket borrowers to get Rs 135.43 cr
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce major schemes and package for Jammu and Kashmir in tourism sector and three District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) of Anantnag, Baramulla and Jammu during her two-day visit to the Union Territory on November 22 and 23 in which she will visit Srinagar and Jammu, the capital cities.
This is first visit of Sitharaman to Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of special status of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
At a function in Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University on November 23, the Finance Minister will not only launch various schemes but also announce major packages in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and top officials of various Banks.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Sitharaman will announce adoption of tourism cluster of Jammu and Kashmir to benefit 2000 plus enterprises over next two years which will promote sustainable tourism leading to 20 percent increase in present turnover of Rs 2000 crore.
“This will give a major boost to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir where tourism has suffered a lot during past two years initially due to strictness following abrogation of special status, internet shutdown and then COVID pandemic. However, the tourism has now started picking up in the Union Territory,” the officials said, adding the adoption of tourism cluster will give fillip to the tourism.
The Finance Minister will also announce financial package of Rs 278 crore for three District Cooperative Central Banks of Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu.
“The financial package is aimed at enabling the three DCCBs to comply with Capital-to-Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR),” the sources said.
The package, they added, is aimed at reviving the ailing Cooperative Banks.
Sitharaman will distribute letters to big ticket borrowers to the tune of Rs 135.43 crore.
The big ticket borrowers include Mini Hydro Power Projects, Cold Storage Unit, Decowell Shoes Private Limited. SKB Food, Food Processing, Kashmir Valley Motors: TATA Motors, Apple Trader, Roller Flour Mill, Imagine Centre and Diagnostic Centre.
She will also distribute Token Sanction Letters to the tune of Rs 11 crore.
Major schemes which Nirmala Sitharaman will launch include Tejaswani under Mission Youth Programme of Jammu and Kashmir Government, e-foundation stone laying of RSETI buildings at Shopian and Baramulla districts of Kashmir and e-inauguration of B/Us Salal, Bagga and Budhan projects in district Reasi.
She will also announce ‘One District One Product’ Scheme with adoption of Artisanal culture in Baramulla targeting specific Kashmiri products (i.e. honey of Kishtwar). She will handover sanction to Zazba. a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under Corporate Social Responsibility for setting up micro enterprises.
The Finance Minister will launch two schemes of Punjab National Bank named Shikar and Shikara.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Bank RK Chhibber will also address the function.
According to sources, Sitharaman will be on two-day visit of Jammu and Kashmir on November 22 and 23.
She will reach Srinagar on November 22 wherein she will meet representatives of trade and industrialists and discuss with them the steps to boost trade and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. She will also take suggestions from the stakeholders. She is also expected to launch certain new schemes in the Kashmir valley.
She will reach Jammu on November 23 and attend the function at General Zorawar Singh auditorium. She will also interact with media before returning to New Delhi.
During his visit, the Finance Minister is also expected to review the financial condition of Jammu and Kashmir with the concerned bureaucrats including spending from the current budget for ongoing Financial Year of 2021-22. The Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) could also come up for review.
It may be mentioned here that Sitharaman didn’t visit Jammu and Kashmir during Public Outreach undertaken by around 70 Central Ministers to Jammu and Kashmir which concluded last month and the Ministers have also started submitting their feedback reports to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Jammu and Kashmir for four days which was also his first visit to the Union Territory post abrogation of special status of erstwhile State of J&K.
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