Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: Maintaining that Industrialization is key to tackle the burgeoning un-employment problem, the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo today called for promotion of industries with strong backward and forward linkages, adding that strong raw material back up, State of the art manufacturing ability and effective marketing channels are of primary importance to withstand stiff marketing competition.
Speaking at the first review meeting of the industries, Commerce, and allied departments and PSUs, after taking over the charge of these departments, Mr. Kichloo said quality control and cost effectiveness is also of vital significance to make the industrial production of J&K a thriving industry. He said focus of the policy planners should be to develop industry which is primarily based on the locally available raw material in abundance having a vast local market also.
He said it has been observed that most of the raw material for various industries goes outside the State as we have not been able to exploit and process valuable treasure in the form of an industrial output.
“Result oriented awareness programme, exhibition and expos in and outside the State both in rural and urban areas of the country and abroad, can be significant in this regard,” Mr. Kichloo added.
He Kichloo also called for promotion and revival of traditional and heritage handicrafts of the State by dove-tailing it with the modern technologies in design development.
He further called for effectiveness of single window clearance system, technical monitoring of various industrial units and removing industrial sickness by devicing workable revival plans to give a boost to industries in the State in a big way.
Mr. Kichloo also urged for a pragmatic Industrial Policy to extract world renowned minerals especially blue sapphire (Neelam) (by activations the Deptt. for generating revenue). He also called for a proper and effective management plan to be put in place to improve the working of various PSUs to make these financially sustainable.
The Commissioner/ Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Shantmanu while giving power point presentation about the working of the overall Industries & Commerce Deptt. said that about 11792 industrial units with an investment of Rs. 1923 cr. have been registered in the State since 2002-03 upto date where 72340 jobs have been generated.
He said during the current year some land mark initiatives have been taken up to give boost to the industries, handicrafts and handlooms in the State which include construction of Sanat Ghar at Bemina Srinagar to house all the Departments/Corporations of Industries & Commerce under one roof at an estimated cost of Rs. 27.21 crore. In addition, a 300 TDP capacity Grinding-cum-Packing unit is being set up at Industrial Growth Centre, Samba at an estimated cost of Rs. 26.67 crore.
A permanent infrastructure at Trade Facilitation Centres Salamabad, Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh, Poonch is being executed on fast track basis at an estimated cost of Rs. 895.00 lakh & Rs. 795.00 lakh. He said the Ministry of Food Processing, GoI has sanctioned a grant of Rs. 7.00 crore for implementing the National Mission for Food Processing Scheme in the State, adding that the civil work for extraction of raw magnesite from Panthal Reasi and establishment of Dead Burnt Magnesite Plant at an estimated project cost of Rs. 160.00 crore at Panthal have also been started.
The meeting, among other concerned officers, was attended by Directors of Industries, Kashmir and Jammu, M.D. Kenu and Gulzar Qureshi, MD SIDCO, M. Mauzzam, M.D. JK Cements, R.K. Razdan, MD SICOP, R.L. Tickoo, MD JKI, Javed Iqbal, Director Handicrafts, Muzaffar Hussain, MD JK Minerals, V.K. Sharma, Director Handloom Doulat Ram Parihar, MD Handloom Corporation, B.S. Dua, Director Geology & Mining Farooq Ahmad, Heads of Craft Development Institute and Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, M.S. Farooqi and Zubarr Ahmad, Secretary KVI, S. Devander Singh and Joint Director Planning Omera Shafat.
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