Jammu, Oct 11 : Stating that for industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir incentive based new industrial policy has been launched, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Anupriya Patel on Monday expressed hope of taking 25,000 cr investment to 50,000 crores.
“For 70-yrs, Article 370 and 35 A kept J&K deprived of everything but after the abrogation of article 370 and 35 A, Jammu and Kashmir is ushering in a new era of development and people are getting what they were deprived of for 70 years”, Ms Patel said while addressing the gathering at Rajouri.
The Minister is on a two day visit as a part of a public outreach initiative of the Central Government.
“Rs 25000 crore investment has been made as per new industrial policy but we are hopeful to touch the figure of Rs 500000 crore”, she added and said that the industrial policy is incentive based and with the development of industries, the young generation will have better employment avenues and hence a better life.
She said that the objective for this huge investment is maximum utilization of industries, manufacturing, services sector, village industries, handicraft, tourism and technology to create more jobs in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir because there is a vast and yet untapped talent pool in our villages waiting for an opportunity.
“To tap the export potential of agricultural and industrial products, the Government is engaging with states and union territories to implement the Districts as Export Hub (DEH) initiative in all districts of the country in a phased manner”, she informed.
While attending a public outreach camp at GHSS Lamberi, the Minister inspected stalls installed by different Departments depicting their public welfare schemes/programs, local handicrafts products, fruits and vegetables.
While inaugurating the bridge, Ms Patel said that the Union Government is committed to the all-around and equitable development of Jammu and Kashmir.
In her address, the Minister said that inclusive, all-round and substantial development of the Jammu and Kashmir UT is the major goal of the Union Government and much emphasis is being laid to push every sector to take the UT to newer heights and new levels of prosperity.
Highlighting the objectives of the special outreach programmes by the Central Government to the UT, she said that these programs are being organised to assess the situation relating to developmental and other aspects on the ground so that after taking proper stock of all this, appropriate measures are taken to further mitigate the development deficit for the larger public interest.
She further informed that under the DEH initiative, District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) have been constituted in most of the districts and products/services with export potential have been identified in each district.
The Minister also stressed upon the market linkage and formulation of a suitable district export plan and asked the concerned to deliberate upon the core issues which need to be addressed to make the district an export hub and assured of all possible assistance from the Central Government in this regard.
While elaborating the measures being taken for the promotion of handlooms and handicrafts, she informed that special district plans are to be prepared in each district and value addition of the local handicrafts and handbook products would also be done.
She also felt delighted to know that the representation of women in Governance is fifty per cent and said women are nowhere less than the men in their calibre and the need of the time is to just provide them suitable opportunities where they can exhibit their talent.
Lauding the people’s enthusiasm for the 3-tier PRI System, the Minister said that only by strengthening grass-root democracy, democracy can be truly empowered and a novel start has been initiated in J&K under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Referring to the initiative of the opening of AIIMS, the Minister said that the opening of these institutions along with new Government Medical Colleges in the district will give a huge fillip to the medical infrastructure besides saving time and money for the people who will get the best medical facilities within Jammu and Kashmir
The Minister also handed over eight sanctioned letters of KCC of Handloom and Handicrafts and Five of Animal Husbandry Department amounting to Rs 8 lakhs and 3 lakhs respectively.
She also issued six sanctioned letters of scholarship of the Labour Department amounting to Rs 2.40 lakhs.
