In order to centralise functions related to developing industries especially micro units, small and medium sized enterprises, helping in professional entrepreneurship and skill development and to do away with multiple policies pursued by State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) and Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation (SICOP) with special emphasis on providing varied financial assistance to entrepreneurs, establishing a single institution of Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Development Corporation (JKIDC) was mooted way back in early 2020 . It needs to be noted that the absence of a legislative support was duly addressed in October 2020 by carrying necessary amendments in Jammu and Kashmir Development Act 1970 by Union Ministry of Home Affairs. In other words, decks were all cleared for merger of the two entities, viz SIDCO and SICOP into one entity of a full fledged Industrial Development Corporation (JKIDC). It had a wide and a larger role to play in various aspects of a rapid industrialisation, though keeping environmental concerns in view, in Jammu and Kashmir. More industrial estates and opportunities of investments on attractive terms could be better handled by JKIDC which can prove to be an effective one fountainhead of monitoring and implementing government’s policies and schemes for a better industrial scenario. No status-quo approach, better marketing opportunities, more of research, surveys and potential for industries can be pursued in close co-operation with and directions from the government by the JKIDC. Moreover, industrial assets and infrastructure can be expected to be better handled and managedcoupled with importantly more of transparency.
All said and done about the background and due legislative support about the merger and establishing of one entity, how to proceed ahead and how to sort out issues and connected wherewithal, a committee of bureaucrats was set up six months back to submit the report and recommendations to the government. So far, no development has taken place and as usual, it seems that a period of six months is considered too little to do anything even if it may cause delay considerably in implementing the decision of merger and the accruable advantages. The UT government too does not appear to be in that hurry to have the JKIDC established at the earliest otherwise there would have been vigorous follow- up of the progress made during these six months hence pressure exerted on the panel to expeditiously submit the report.
In such circumstances, therefore, why should not the services of professionals be outsourced so that expert and professional guidance could be obtained in such matters in order to accord urgency to issues of utmost importance like the one under reference. That would address the factor of indispensability, if any, or the exclusive domain of attending to such issues by otherwise busy and tightly scheduled UT bureaucrats. On the contrary, if again, there was no such urgency and that only six months having gone by was just a routine and if as much time is required additionally, then simple persistent reminders etc could prove effective.
However, we feel since the prospective merger would throw up problems which will be personnel related which, perhaps, may be causing delays in submission of recommendations or suggesting a roadmap. It is likely that the merger could result many serving employees rendered as surplus who had to be adjusted in other departments or PSUs of the government with same pay and other benefits. It is a paradox that while more of digitization, introducing modes of information technology in office working, mergers, more centralising procedures of delivery mechanism, closure of white elephant PSUs incurring losses etc result in large numbers of existing staff members rendered as ”surplus” or not required, meriting taking such steps which must be in respect of shifting and adjusting them suitably in other departments or bidding them adieu under the lucrative provisions of the VRS. On the other hand, the problem of massive unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir while demanding more unemployed to be engaged in work, some of those already in service getting dislocated, is a problem to be equally addressed.
Inevitable and necessary decisions have got to be taken like the one under reference, in order to give a push to industrial sector in the UT which has both the potential as well as the promising scope for creating lot of employment opportunities, direct and indirect. Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Development Corporation, therefore, has to play a significant role as one monitoring and promoting statutory agency. The entrepreneurs can get all the required assistance under one roof and thus could save time, energy and money on visiting different offices for seed capital requirements, capital requirements, risk capital for high reward investments, financial assistance like term loans, taking benefits of incentive schemes of the central and UT government schemes and what not. Hence, establishing JKIDC is absolutely important and must be accorded expeditious attention from all concerned.
Follow our WhatsApp channel