‘Investment in J&K will not hit local employment’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 22: Allaying fears of the traders and other people, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh today announced that industrial investment in Jammu and Kashmir will not hit the local employment.
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The Union Minister was speaking at a function held in connection with inauguration of Jammu Haat, a hub of export promotion here, today along with Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha. Dr Jitendra Singh, while giving all assurance to traders that their interests will always remain intact said, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is opening up new avenues for livelihood of people in J&K as he is concerned for the people of the UT most.
He said the ultimate objective of this Government is to promote business with ease of doing business. He said whatever are the grievances and of the traders or people we have to redress them.“We have to ensure that single businessman should not feel unattended’’, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while referring to resentment shown by traders said “Whatever will be the merit of their concern will be addressed”, saying “We all have to address their grievances’’.
The Union Minister said that with the announcement of new industrial policy new vistas will be opened for the people in industrial sector in the UT of J&K but people have to be ready for the competition also.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the traders delegation can come to Delhi and he will arrange their meeting with the concerned Ministries. Earlier they had approached but due to COVID it could not materialize. He, however, said the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries visited and their meeting was arranged.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that on May 26, 2014 when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took oath of office his Government’s one of the objective since then remained to bring those people in the main stream who had gone astray and in this regard lot of work was done in North East and J&K. “We did this with commitment and not keeping the vote bank in consideration’’, he added.
The Union Minister said to bring peace and prosperity in North Eastern Region where situation was much worst than J&K the Modi Government started Mission North East and in this entire region there is a sea change at present. He said during Monsoons earlier roads used to be blocked for days together but at present there are A Class roads in this entire region. Besides, three airports were constructed there as Modi Government worked with commitment and without any consideration as it has only people’s welfare in its mind.
Dr Jitendra Singh said with that vigour and commitment Modi Government is working in J&K also and after converting the J&K into Union Territory many steps were taken for its development and welfare of the people.
“Today the Jammu Haat has been inaugurated and the business community should have no confusion as our commitment is welfare of all people of the UT and this Government is not going to do any such activity due to which any one will feel uneasy. We have to hear the objective of traders and also keep our point before them ’’, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said PM Narendra Modi fully supports, J&K Government and every section of the society in the UT. While highlighting the achievements of last three years, he said with the coming of New Anti Corruption Act those taking bribe as well as giving bribe had to face action.
He made it clear that present Corruption Act is not that of previous Governments where it was decided whom to punish and whom not by the Government only. “Recently during my meeting with traders in Srinagar they also expressed apprehensions about outside businessmen coming to J&K and I asked them show me any example where outsiders came and locals lost jobs. Instead the job opportunities in those areas increased where new industrialists established their units. But for this we have to concentrate on capacity building,” he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that India is becoming the part of Global world and for becoming the beneficiary of it the thrust should be on capacity building.
While justifying creation of new constitutional mechanism for J&K, he said these were the people of the erstwhile State who were saying dynastic rule and corruption is prevalent in J&K. The people getting cent percent marks in written tests were not declared eligible for jobs during interviews and blue eyed boys or those with less marks were selected due to corrupt practices. But under the new mechanism based on fair justice a poor person with good marks can easily get selected, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said recently some students who could not qualify the tests sat on dharna and unfortunately some leaders visited there asking them that they will fight for their jobs. “A leader has to lead the community and not get himself mislead’’, he added.
The Union Minister also highlighted the contribution of some promising youth from J&K who set up their own establishments and doubled their income within a year. He said that a seed processing plant has been established in Kathua which is North India’s first after Punjab. The Government has come with new Industrial policy to create more avenues of job and now people have to come out of old mindset.
He stressed on holding seminars to educate people about the same and maintained that no Government can provide jobs to all individuals but it is the duty of every Government to create job avenues for the people.
Dr Jitendra Singh said to promote domestic industry, the Government amended Indian Forest Act to exempt Bamboo from Forest clearance and in J&K Reasi, Kathua and Samba has big Bamboo reserves.
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