In a significant step towards women empowerment and giving a boost to women entrepreneurship in the State, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga today laid the foundation stone of Women Entrepreneur Development Centre at Jammu Haat.The project will be executed by J&K SICOP at an estimated cost of Rs. 16.26 crore
Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, Member Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA Jammu East Rajesh Gupta were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister thanked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for taking keen interest in providing conducive environ to the women entrepreneurs and envisaging an Entrepreneur Development Centre. During her visit to Jammu Haat earlier, Chief Minister had desired that the place which is ideally located in the heart of Jammu city should be converted into an exclusive ‘Business Centre for Women Entrepreneurs’, he added.
The Minister said that entrepreneurship amongst women, improves the wealth of the nation in general and of the family in particular. Women today are more willing to take up activities that were once considered the domain of men, and have proved that they are second to none with respect to contribution in the growth of economy.The centre fully equipped with all modern business and IT facilities will provide vocational training and skill development to the interested women entrepreneurs besides providing them a place to display local crafts like shawls, papier machie products, carpets, informed the Minister.Ganga said that the new Industrial Policy will facilitate ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and give a new direction in making J&K an investor friendly destination. He assured all possible support to the industrialists so that they would contribute in the development of the state. Government is putting sincere efforts in developing the industrial infrastructure and has created a land bank for the establishment of new units in the state, he said, adding that women entrepreneurs will be given priority for establishing business units in the state.
The Minister also appealed the industrialists to perform their duties under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and to provide employment to the skilled/unskilled local youth on priority.Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for I&C, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi said that the centre will help in empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting them in starting and expanding their businesses. Being a woman, the Chief Minister is very particular about empowering women and giving them new avenues to prove themselves, he said, adding that the government has taken up various initiatives in this regard.He said that Jammu Haat will be developed and refurbished to be a model hub for business related activities and amalgamation of the Haat with the Tawi Riverfront Development Project will also attract the tourists coming to our state, he said.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said that coalition government is working on the agenda of development of all three regions with emphasis on upliftment of people of rural areas. He said that the centre and state government have launched various flagship programmes for the welfare and development of the women including Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao, Ladli Beti and State Marriage Assistance scheme.MLA Jammu East Rajesh Gupta also spoke on the occasion and thanked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Minister for Industries & Commerce for setting up such a prestigious project in Jammu city. The MLA also said that he would contribute from his CDF for the beautification works in Jammu Haat.Director Industries and Commerce Jammu, Rajinder Singh Tara, MD SICOP, R L Tickoo, senior officers of Industries and Commerce department, representatives of various industries and trade organizations were present on the occasion.