Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga said that with a slew of industry friendly measures J&K Government aims to attract an investment of Rs 20,000 crore over the next ten years.Winding up the discussion on demand of grants for Industries and Commerce Department, the Minister said that Government is focused on development of this vital sector. He further added that as per the latest economic survey by the Government, it contributes 25.87 % to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and various steps are being taken to strengthen the sector for socio-economic transformation of the State.The Minister said that the micro and small industrial enterprises have been the main focus of the Government, adding that there are 30257 registered MSME units employing about 1.45 lakh persons in the State. Highlighting the provisions of New Industrial Policy 2016, the Minister said that Industrial policy envisions Ease of Doing Business by simplifying the process of obtaining clearances, No Objection Certificates including self-certification of documents and others.
Speaking on Handloom sector, Mr. Ganga acknowledged the challenges being faced from power looms and modernization in addition to lack of capital and investment. He said that Government aims to promote the sector through integrated handicraft development, handloom weaver comprehensive welfare and modernization schemes besides renovation of looms and loan assistance to cooperative societies.The Minister underscored the importance of labour-extensive sectors of Handicraft and Handloom in mitigating the challenges of unemployment. He said that the handloom units produce Loi, Pattu blankets, Pashmina, Ruffle and Dasoi Khat. He said that the Department has taken 15 handloom clusters and 20 group approach projects on a project cost of Rs. 12.23 crore under the Integrated Handloom Department Scheme (IHDS).Referring to the initiatives taken under skill development programme, Mr. Ganga said that during 2015-16, 7890 persons have been trained at the elementary and 553 persons in advanced training centres throughout the state, in various crafts like Sozni, Crewl, Papier Machie, Fulkari, Zari and Chain Stitching. He said that Artisan Credit Card scheme benefited 3453 artisans besides Rs. 26.36 crore were provided for Interest Subvention for the cases sanctioned during 2015-16.
The Minister said that Kashmir Haat Srinagar which was badly damaged during the floods of 2014 has been restored and made functional.The Minister further said that Handicrafts Department runs 109 training centres throughout the State to impart training in trades like readymade garments, handloom weaving, spinning and weaving and Kani shawl weaving. 1044 trainees were trained in different trades during 2015-16, he added.The Minister said that Weaver Credit Scheme of Government of India is being implemented by the Handloom Department with an aim to provide adequate and timely credit.Regarding industry, the Minister said that many new initiatives are being taken up by the Government including creation of land bank of 20,000 kanals across the state, setting up of one Technology Centre and one Biotechnological Park at Industrial Estate, Ghatti (Kathua), Common Facility Centre for Leather products at Lassipora and Green Corridor at Lakhanpur for easing industrial and commercial related travel and transport.Later, the House passed the grants of Industries and Commerce, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 454.46 crore with voice vote. The members who took part in the discussion on demand of grants include Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Gagan Bhagat, Mubarak Gul, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Ravinder Raina, Shamim Firdous, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Rajiv Jasrotia, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Abdul Rahim Rather, Asgar Ali Karbalie, Devinder Kumar Manyal, Engineer Abdul Rashid, Abdul Majeed Padder, Daleep Singh Parihar, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Javed Ahmad Rana and Yawar Ahmad Mir.