Why is the industrial sector in the State unable to take off when policy planners as well as the Government believe that growth and expansion of industries is the panacea of unemployment especially among the educated youth of the State? Industrial sector has lagged behind to considerable extent thus arresting economic progress of the State. While the Government tries to make sure that all obstructions in the path to uniform development are removed, it has not so far tackled the reasons for very slow growth of industrial culture in the State. We have the department of industries and commerce, but its presence on the economic landscape of the State is somewhat hazy. Some industries were set up in public sector particularly in Kashmir region. But their progress was unsatisfactory, even some became a liability and many more did not take off at all. In Jammu region, there has been a semblance of private industrial sector which has been able to provide employment to a limited number of employees. However, industries on mega scale that would have the potential of generating big employment opportunities are still lacking.
One reason could be the unwillingness of the Government and the body of entrepreneurs to discourage investment by big industrial houses in the State. It could be a problem of competitive enterprise or even political mismanagement. No serious effort has been made so far to identify the bottlenecks in industrial growth and clear them with remedial measures. The way District Industrial Centres (DIC) are underplaying the policy of the Government in collecting data on the on-ground components of industrial enterprise is simply sordid and reprehensible. It speaks of total inertia that has overtaken district administration in the State. The Department of Industries and Commerce issued clear instructions to DICs to conduct detailed survey of their respective districts in regard to various components of industrial expansion like existence of mineral resources, human resource potential, accessibility prospects, potential for employment, potential for agro-based, mineral-based and forest produce based industries etc. This preliminary exercise is of much importance for the planning of industrial sector in the State. The Department had also conveyed detailed instructions and guidelines that would facilitate collection of data as per the requirement of the department. It is sad that none of the DIC has responded to the call of the department. Strangely, the authorities expected to run the show have adopted complacent attitude and not impressed upon the field teams that dereliction of duty would not be tolerated.
Two things need to be addressed forthwith in the context of this discussion. One is that the relevance and importance of industrial development of the State has to be understood by the functionaries and allied agencies. It has to be made clear to one and all the practical and realistic way of solving unemployment issue in the State is closely and explicitly linked to the growth of suitable industries. The second point to be brought home is that before persuading big industrial houses to invest and establish industries in the State, political and environmental atmosphere is made conducive to the requirements of industrialization. It is reminded that in pursuance of Prime Minister’s special economic package under which Kashmiri students will be provided training in various productive skills in different technical institutes in the country and then provided jobs in respective fields is a noble idea. But the question is that we should have the industries where this human resource can be put to use.
Why the DICs have not been monitoring employment generation of existing industrial units? One would have liked these Centres to recommend to the Government how employment avenues could be generated in larger numbers given the industrial potential of respective districts. The survey is a multi-departmental activity and even this has not been explored by the DICs. We would like to convey a word of caution to the Department of Industries and Commerce. The people of the State expect lots from them. They understand fully that development and growth of industrial sector in the state is a healthy signs for reducing unemployment and strengthening state economy. These are no small expectations. The Department of Industries and Commerce should not give any opportunity to the people to bring its non-delivery prospect to the public domain. The Chief Minister himself pins hope on State industries rendering yeoman’s service in alleviating the curse of unemployment. Obviously he will be a sad person to be told that the State industrial sector is afflicted with inertia.
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