The Government has made elaborate plans focusing on each sector of the industry. The present employment capacity of Jammu and Kashmir’s industries is around 1.09 lakh individuals. The Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir plans to increase it by developing 42 new industrial estates. There are already applications with a proposed investment of Rs 65,000 crore and the potential to employ 3.12 lakh individuals. A few thousand applications have already been approved, with the potential employment of 1.54 lakh individuals. National industrial estate developers like IRCON and NBCC have been roped in to develop 19 out of 42 new industrial estates.
This is an ambitious plan for a manifold increase in the present employment provided by industry. A lot of groundwork has been done by the administration on the infrastructure front for this expansion. A four-lane national highway for all-weather connectivity, tunnels and bridges to reduce the time taken for transportation, and railway connectivity are part of the groundwork. These will not only flip to industrialization, but the tourism industry will also get a major impetus with this. Double-decker buses and Vista dome trains are part of the plans.
The administration is also focusing on foreign investments. A memorandum of understanding with the Government of Dubai to attract foreign direct investment of over Rs 500 crore for the development of two information technology (IT) towers and a mega shopping mall has been signed. These projects have the potential to create employment for 4,500 and 7,500 individuals, respectively. This is quite significant, as earlier notions have been proven wrong, and earlier inaccessible Jammu and Kashmir has opened doors for even FDI.
As part of medical tourism, the Apollo Group has submitted a proposal for the establishment of a 250-bed hospital with an expected investment of Rs 250 crore and the potential to employ 1200 individuals. Paras Group of Hospitals has also planned to open a hospital in Srinagar with all modern amenities. The proposal of the Industries and Commerce Department to establish two medium-sized cities, one each at Sempora, Pampore, and Miransahib, in Jammu, has already been approved.
Self-employment is as important as any other industry, and the administration is providing full support to individuals as well as self-help groups. Over the past four years, crores in margin money have been disbursed for the establishment of thousands of self-employment units, providing employment opportunities to lakhs of individuals. Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board has been successful in arranging margin money under the Rural Employment Guarantee Programme to help 2937 units employing thousands.
One product, one district, and GI tags are other focused areas targeted by the industries department. The focus is on creating a worldwide niche for exclusive products from Jammu and Kashmir. This will help not only preserve arts and crafts but also encourage youth to adopt arts and crafts as an employment opportunity.
Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy is already there with the single window application movement to remove unnecessary official hurdles and delays. The administration is doing everything in its capacity to encourage, help, train, and provide financial assistance to establish and promote local industries. The best results will be there.
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