Estimates Committee reviews functioning of I&C department

Jammu, Dec 17: The Committee on Estimates Wednesday held a meeting at Assembly Complex here to review and examine the functioning of Jammu & Kashmir Industries & Commerce Department.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairperson of the Committee, Legislator, Shamim Firdous.
The meeting was attended by Legislators, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Prof. Gharu Ram Bhagat, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Chander Prakash Ganga and Arjun Singh Raju; members of the Estimates Committee besides, Secretary, JKLA, Manoj Kumar Pandit.
The Committee discussed various issues of Industries and Commerce department as well as initiatives taken to address the challenges faced by the young entrepreneurs like licensing exercises and difficulties in land acquisition for opening of new industrial projects.
The issues related to unemployed local youth/young entrepreneurs who have applied for registration of different schemes and availing loan facilities for establishing the industrial units in last two years and initiatives taken to revive the sick/defunct industrial units across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir were also deliberated upon during the meeting.
The meeting also discussed measures taken to address the pending issue of withheld emoluments in favour of retirees of JK Cements, and status of land and infrastructure of the said unit at Khrew. The committee also sought details of industrial land allotted to non-locals for the last seven years across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir as well as details of new schemes introduced under JKEDI.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh briefed the Committee about the steps being taken for development of industrial sector besides, physical and financial activities of the department.
The Committee emphasized upon the senior authorities of Industries and Commerce Department to facilitate the local unemployed youths for providing jobs in various industrial units.
The Chairperson of the Committee directed the concerned officers to aware the unemployed youth about the various central sponsored schemes in Industrial sector in Jammu and Kashmir so that they can get benefit from these schemes and earn their livelihood.
The Committee also stressed on concerned officers to promote single window system for providing loans and other assistance for setting up of new ventures by the unemployed youths so that they could not any inconvenience in this regard.
Members of the Committee gave their valuable suggestions and highlighted various issues regarding further improvement in I&C Department for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Secretary in Industries & Commerce, Khalid Jahangir; DG, Budget, Finance Department, M S Malik; Directors of I&C Jammu/Kashmir; Directors, Handloom & Handicrafts, Jammu/Kashmir; Directors, Finance/Planning, I&C; MD, SIDCO/SICOP; Secretary/CEO, KVIB and other senior officers of I&C and Assembly Secretariat were also present in the meeting.