Chief Secretary reviews progress on implementation of business reforms

Jammu, Mar 28: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Saturday chaired a meeting of the concerned Administrative Secretaries to review the progress achieved in the implementation of identified deregulation measures under the next phase of the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) programme in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary underscored the urgent need to eliminate unnecessary regulatory bottlenecks, particularly the requirement of multiple No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for establishing businesses.
He observed that such procedures are often redundant and create avoidable hurdles for entrepreneurs. Emphasizing the importance of timely reforms, he remarked that rationalizing these requirements within a defined timeframe would significantly benefit the people of the Union Territory.
Citing practical examples, the Chief Secretary pointed out that individuals seeking to establish small enterprises such as schools, nursing homes, or health clinics are often required to obtain numerous clearances from different departments, making the process cumbersome and discouraging for potential investors.
He stressed the need to streamline such procedures and explore the feasibility of issuing lifetime licenses in suitable sectors, particularly in health and education, where periodic renewals may not serve any meaningful purpose.
To address these concerns, the Chief Secretary directed the Labour and Employment Department to work in close coordination with the Department of Law to examine the existing regulatory framework and propose comprehensive solutions.
He further called for a detailed review of the proposed Right to Business Act, with a view to incorporating provisions that facilitate smoother and more efficient processes for establishing and operating businesses in the UT.
Highlighting the broader significance of these reforms, the Chief Secretary noted that their effective implementation is critical for fostering a business-friendly regulatory environment and enhancing investor confidence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, provided an overview of the ongoing initiatives under the second phase of compliance reduction and deregulation, commonly referred to as Deregulation 2.0 or Phase-II of EoDB.
He informed that this phase is aligned with the national framework and envisages the rollout of 30 new priority reform areas across seven key sectors in 2026. He added that the implementation process has already commenced, with substantial progress achieved in several priority areas.
He further elaborated that while the first phase of EoDB primarily focused on digitization of services, Phase-II aims at deeper structural reforms, particularly targeting reduction of compliance burden on MSMEs and startups. The overarching objective is to simplify regulatory frameworks, eliminate procedural redundancies, and promote sustainable economic growth.
Providing details on the current status of implementation, Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu, Arun Manhas, informed that the initiative covers seven major focus sectors encompassing 30 priority reform areas, including several domains that were not extensively addressed in earlier phases.
He noted that the reforms include five priority areas each in the Education sector and Utilities/Permissions, three categories of land-related compliances, and two focus areas each in Environment, Health, and Building and Construction sectors. Additionally, high-impact reforms have been identified in Labour, Fire Services, and Tourism sectors to ensure these areas receive a substantial boost through reduced regulatory burden and streamlined compliance mechanisms.