Rs. 97 cr mega Food Park, Textile Park on anvil; 16000 Artisan families brought under Health insurance
JAMMU, MARCH 22- Saying that creation of employment opportunities for un-employed youth of the State is top priority of the coalition Government, the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo today said it has been made mandatory to employ the local youth in fixed proportion adding that necessary modification have already been made in the State industrial policy for this purpose.
Replying to the discussion on grants for the Departments and PSUs under his charge, in the Legislative Assembly today, Mr. Kichloo said that the Industrial sector has a key role in the socio-economic development of the State, adding that at present about 20,000 souls get their livelihood from industries directly or indirectly. He said the sector has still a vast potential for employment generation for which there was a need to create awareness among the youth about various special incentives and packages available under both Central and State industrial policies in vogue. Now, it has been decided to launch a vigorous awareness campaign at block, tehsil and district levels for the purpose, he added.
Kichloo said the single window system has been made more vibrant and hassle free as a result of which 722 micro and small scale units have been cleared besides allotment of about 1638.53 kanals for setting up industrial units. He said an Apex Project Clearance Committee headed by Chief Secretary has been constituted for clearance of projects costing Rs. 5 crore and above for the convenience of entrepreneurs, adding that technical monitoring in Industries Centers has also been brought under more focus.
Responding to the points raised by the members, the Minister said that revival of sick industries has also been taken up due to which 457 identified sick units in the State have been revived with assistance of about Rs. 3.70 crore so far.
Kichloo said that 19 new industrial estates are being developed in the State including 9 in Jammu and 10 in Kashmir divisions raising the total number of industrial estates in the State to 67. He said 2061 industrial units have been registered in the State since 2000-09 with an investment of Rs. 880 crore. He said, besides setting up new industrial Estates, the existing estates are also being upgraded in a phased manner. He said price preference to SSI sector, as marketing support, will be implemented in letter and spirit adding that violators of these guidelines shall be dealt with sternly.
Kichloo said a novel handicrafts promotion initiative has been launched under Artisan Credit Card Scheme (ACC) recently to provide credit facility upto Rs. one lakh to the artisans on nominal interest rate adding that 64000 souls have been brought under the ambit of Health Insurance coverage. He said 10 handicrafts clusters of different trades for artisans of the Shahr-e-Khaas, at a cost of Rs. 64 crore, have been set-up besides distributing 500 modernized looms to artisans free of costs. As many as 8000 such looms will be provided to the artisans in a phased manner, Mr. Kichloo added. He said this year the sale of handicraft products is expected to yield Rs. 1700 crore, adding that Rs. 5.87 crore Massive skill upgradation project for carpet industry has been approved by Union Ministry of textiles where 43000 persons will be trained in carpet manufacturing. He said two Handloom Clusters Development Projects at Saidpora costing Rs. 59.60 lakh and other at Parigam, Pulwama with the cost of Rs. 60 lakh have been sanctioned this year to give boost to handloom activities in a big way. In addition, 5 Special Handloom Projects at a cumulative cost of Rs. 40 crore for South Kashmir, Central Kashmir, Leh and Kishtwar have been sent to union Ministry of Textiles for approval.
Kichloo said that a mega food park costing Rs. 78 crores over an area of 400 kanals and a Mega Textile park at Grovidsar, Kathua on 200 kanals at a cost of Rs. 18.84 crore are also being development to promote major industries in the State.
While highlighting achievements of various PSUs, Mr. Kichloo said that the J&K Cements, which is one of the profit making organizations in public sector, has earned a profit of Rs. 3.40 crore this year adding that one more 600 ton per day capacity cement plant at Khrew, Pulwama is also coming up.
He said J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP) has provided marketing support to 855 SSI units amounting to Rs. 174 crore, and Rs. 632 crore as raw material support. He said JKI is being modernized, for which Rs. 2.50 crore are being spent for revival of Government Silk Factory, Rajbagh and Rs. 2.50 crore for Government Woolen Mills Bemina.
Kichloo informed the House that an ambition Rs.160 crore Magnesite Plant at Panthal, Reasi which was struck for last 23 years has now been cleared to exploit huge reserves of dead burnt megnisite in the area.
Earlier, the Minister moved a demand for a sum of Rs. 413.26 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014 for department and PSUs under his charge.
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