Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 19: Stressing on creation of conducive conditions for the outsider investors in the State, so that they are induced to invest in J&K, Union Minister in PMO with Independent Charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today cautioned that incentives given to industry should not become disincentives.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of a function organized by ASSOCHAM here today, the Union Minister stressed that proactive role needs to be played in bringing the investors to the State who will feel at home here.
While referring to North Eastern States, he said more and more industrialists are ready to invest due to the proactive role played by the industry there and to boost the industry in the region the Ministry of North East has provided a special venture fund while that kind of atmosphere is lacking in this State.
Dr Jitendra Singh said two foreign countries, Japan and Singapore are making heavy investment in North East because of cooperation they get there. Even two foreign countries have established their Consulate Generals in NE which is not possible here, he added.
“The situation has changed in NE to such an extent in last three years of Narendra Modi rule the entire India is looking forward towards it while the outsider investors show hesitations to invest in J&K because of barriers created here,” he said.
However, Dr Singh parried a question whether Article 370 was a barrier in this regard.
In response to another question about ceasefire violations by Pakistan on International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) to divert attention from its internal problems, the Union Minister said that “it is not question what Pak is doing but what we are doing in response to that’’. He said the retaliation made during the Modi Government to Pak shelling has never been witnessed before.
He said the militancy in Kashmir is on wane and these are some individuals who for their vested interests are promoting the terrorism otherwise the common youth in Kashmir is for peace and wants to take part in PM Modi’s development agenda.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kashmiri youth is looking forward to his progress and this is the reason that 19 youth from Valley have qualified IIT last year while some came with flying colours in Civil Services Examinations in last some years. “In fact Kashmiri youth are far ahead than youth of other States of the country’’, he added.
He said the people of the State should take benefit of the policies and programmes of Modi Government and the way liberal funding has been made to the State by present Union Government has never been there as before.
He also parried a question on Mehbooba Mufti’s demand of holding talks with Pakistan saying he is not qualified to respond to it as the issue pertains to Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and External Affairs Ministry.
Earlier addressing the function, Dr Jitendra Singh said that when other States of country have overcome the disadvantages why not J&K and this needs a strong introspection.
He said for last three years there has been un- credible outreach by Prime Minister to promote young entrepreneurs in the country and some months back PM made a visit to young champions and it was specially arranged for young entrepreneurs of the country. Two youth from J&K participated in it and both were from Kashmir and no one was from Jammu, he added.
Stressing on changing the mind set, he said “instead of becoming subsidy seekers we should become subsidy givers’’.
Denying that any discrimination has been made with any region during Modi Government Dr Jitendra Singh said “I say with confidence that no discrimination has been made with any region during last three years and there is also no question of it in this Government’’.
Referring to tax holiday demand made by the business community, he said it is already in the State.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while referring to giving equal treatment to every region said that after the sanction of AIIMS for the State, the demand from Jammu also took momentum and Central Government sanctioned another institute for the State. But he apprehended that it may end up in establishing a sick AIIMS as the doctors from outside will not be ready to serve here due to certain constraints. A doctor serving for 30 years in the State will not be allowed to settle here, he added.
He said NE was far behind than J&K as two states of the region had not seen the train.
But the people of the region are fully cooperative as two foreign countries have opened Consulate Generals there and in J&K we have created man made barriers. “We can’t expect investors here as instead of welcoming them we hold a non welcome road’’, he added.
Dr Singh said providing support to growth and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can help in preventing high profile scams committed by handful of big industrialists.
Talking to media Industries and Commerce Minster, Chander Parkash Ganga said that no political party is as committed to welfare of martyrs as BJP and he highlighted the various steps taken by present Government for the welfare of martyrs as well as border people. He said it was BJP Government which raised the compensation for martyrs in border firing to Rs five lakh and also increased the compensation for injured.
While addressing the function he highlighted the various steps taken for the welfare of Industrialists in the State and said that work on Rs 5000 crore Dry Port will begin next month. He said industrialists will feel pleasure in sending goods outside.
Ganga, however, demanded that in case the NE States were given special package, the J&K be also given this benefit and he highlighted various achievements in the industrials sector during last three years.
Others who spoke included ASSOCHAM secretary general, D S Rawat, M P Raiker, Chairman ASSOCHAM, National Council for Development of MSMEs, Rakesh Gupta, president Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amit Ray, Executive Director, Uflex Ltd and Anil Kishora, Chief General Manager SBI.
Excellence Awards were presented by Dr Jitendra Singh on the occasion and Dr Virender Mahajan of Rahul Pharma Jammu got the winner award in Innovation, while Archit Puri of PBI, India Pvt Ltd, Jammu got the winner award in Most Promising Brand.
The runner up award in this category was given to Pankaj Mahajan of Jai Durga Rice & General Mills, Jammu. In Women Entrepreneur the winner award was given to Ms Chitvan Wazir of Golden Glob Fitness Pvt Ltd. In Fair Business Partner the winner award was given to Subhash Gupta of M/s Kashmir Residency Mall, the City Square Mall, Jammu. The Runner up awards in this category were given to Rajesh Gupta of Hi-way Rubber Industries Jammu and Kaushik Dutta of Modern Packaging Concept Jammu.
In Green Business the winner award was given to Rakesh Bhat of Shalimar Flooring Private Limited Jammu and runner up award was conferred to Bhupesh Gupta of M/s Skyline Hotel (Hotel Radisson Blue) Jammu.
In Start up of the year the winner award was given to Ankush Gupta of K K Roller Flour Mills, Jammu and runner up to Akhil Suri of A B Industries Jammu. In SME of the year the first award was given to Rohit Gupta of Sarveshwar Foods Limited, Jammu while Atul Modi and Arun Gupta of Prevest Denpro Limited Jammu and Arun Art Printers were given the runners up awards respectively.
In Best Pathology Services the winner award was given to Rupesh Mahajan of Dr Lal Path Labs Ltd. In Cost Competitiveness Devinder Verma of Satyam Cements Jammu was given the winner award while in Excellence in Skill Development Gaurav Khajuria of C K Institute of Training and Research got the winner award.
Later during the Mudra Loan Distribution Programme held at SBI Head Office Bahu Plaza Dr Jitendra Singh distributed loans amounting to Rs 12.50 crore among 478 beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries among them was carrying the gas cylinder on his shoulders while he has now purchased a van. The another beneficiary was the artist and they all shared their experience.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the PM has launched this scheme for benefitting those who have talent but not money. He said Mudra to provide gas cylinders to five crore families and also loan to needy poor.
He said the economic reforms by PM are not only economic reforms but the social reforms also which will change the social behavior and cultivate in keeping as much money “as we need and spare rest for others.”
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