J&K Sees 5656.78 Cr Investment Post Art 370 Removal: Centre
Srinagar- The Central government on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that an investment of over Rs 5600 crore has been made in various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
In a reply to a query, Minister of State in Ministry of Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said the Government has notified the New Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on 19/02/2021 so as to attract investors to make capital investments.
This has been supplemented by the policies/schemes, to boost investment in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which include, J&K Industrial Policy 2021-30, J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30, J&K Private Industrial Estate Development Policy 2021-30, Policy for Promotion of Foreign Investment in Industrial Sector in J&K, 2022, J&K Single Window Rules, 2021, Turnover Incentive Scheme, 2021, J&K Wool Processing, Handicrafts and Handloom Policy, 2020, Financial Support Scheme for Cooperatives/Self Help Groups, 2020, Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers, 2020 and Kharkhandar Scheme for Development of Craft Sector in J&K, 2021, Revised Education Scheme 2022 for Artisans/Weavers of
Handicrafts and Handloom Department and Export Subsidy Scheme, 2021.
The impact of the steps have enabled investment of Rs 296.64 in 2019-20, Rs 412.74 in 2020-21, Rs 376.76 in 2021-22, Rs 2153.45 in 2022-23 and Rs 2417.19 in 2023-24.
Rai further said that the investments in various sectors like tourism, processing etc. and infrastructure such as construction, roads, power etc. will boost the development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K Residents Were Deprived Of Progressive Laws’ Benefits
The Centre on Wednesday said that before abrogation of Article 370, J&K residents were deprived of the benefits of a number of progressive laws but now they are enjoying rights available to citizens of other parts of the country.
In a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that after abrogation of Article 370 and application of all the provisions of Constitution of India, the Central Laws which were earlier not applicable to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, were made applicable and are implemented in the Union territory.
“After abrogation of Article 370 all the progressive laws such as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the WhistleBlowers Protection Act, 2014, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, The National Commission for Safai Karmacharis Act, 1993 etc. have been extended to Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The minister said that now, residents of J&K are enjoying rights which are available to citizens in other parts of the country.
SCs, STs, OBCs Granted Rights Only After Article 370 Removal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that SCs, STs and OBCs got their rights in Jammu and Kashmir only after removal of Article 370 of Indian constitution.
PM Modi speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to grant scheduled tribe status to Pahari Ethnic Group and other communities in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to details available, the Lok Sabha also passed the Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 that seeks to include Valmiki community in the Scheduled Caste list of Jammu & Kashmir.
The ST Bill also includes Gadda Brahman, Koli and Paddari communities to the ST list of Jammu and Kashmir.
The grant of ST status would make Paharis eligible for all benefits available to ST category in Jammu and Kashmir. The Paharis are in majority in Nowshera, Kalakote-Sunderbani, Rajouri, Thanmandi, Surankote, Poonch-Haveli, Mendhar, Uri and Karnah assembly segments of J&K.
Notably, Paharis have been fighting for more than three decades for their inclusion in the Schedule Tribe (ST) category.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday also passed a bill to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bill seeks to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir and bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.
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