The Lieutenant Governor of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Manoj Sinha, reviewed the progress made on the recommendations of the Committee on Business revival in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lt Governor sought a detailed report on a host of financial and administrative measures recommended for the revival of the business sector along with financial implications and accorded timelines, aimed at helping business and entrepreneurs and steps taken thereon.
“Business sector is the backbone of every economy and it is important that the government machinery must lay a special focus on its revival and for the welfare of the people associated with it,” Sinha said.
He further stressed on the effective implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee as per the timelines set up by the government to improve the overall business environment of J&K.
“Disburse the financial assistance to the beneficiaries at the earliest,” the Lt Governor directed the officers.
He also directed to hold workshops for awareness of NPA and GEM on-boarding to be held in 20 districts for 10 days which shall be jointly organized by the Finance Department and J&K Bank.
He also called for extending support to small businesses, weavers, artisans by effecting purchases by government departments exclusively.
On promoting skill development, Sinha directed the concerned officers to work out the skill development department calendar of events for promoting skill development amongst the rural population and trade specific trainings at grass root level.
He further laid emphasis on buyer-seller meets to be organized by the Industries and Commerce Department across the UT, especially export oriented handicrafts, round the year.
“Buyer-Seller meets shall be organized for encouraging participation of local industries in handicrafts and other allied sectors and for suppliers to cantonments. This will be a regular feature round the year,” he said.
Sinha also asked the Industries and Commerce Department to come up with a comprehensive plan to save all potentially viable MSME sick units.
He further directed the concerned officers to seek every option and opportunity for increasing the production of apple, walnuts, and almonds through high density plantation.
The Lt Governor took stock of the progress made on various financial measures recommended by the Committee including interest subvention of five per cent in case of all borrowers, excluding borrowers under KCC, ACC, loan against deposits, loans under personal segments, NBFCs, and 50 per cent waiver of the fixed charges of electricity and water in respect of the Industries and Commercial Establishments for a period of one year (January-December 2020).
He also reviewed the progress made on bus drivers/cleaners/ sumo drivers and auto drivers who have moved to construction works and who shall be registered with the building and other construction workers board and paid monthly remuneration of Rs 1000 each in DBT mode for a period of six months as per norms; release of pending interest subvention under 2014 and 2016 rehabilitation schemes for restructured accounts; 80 per cent subsidy amounting for installation of the bio-digesters in the Houseboat; 50 per cent subsidy or Rs 5 lakh (whichever is lower) shall be provided to the transporters for replacement of old buses; payment of Rs 1,000 per month to shikara walas/workers in the house boats/tourist guides/pithuwalas/dandiwalas/sledge walas/pony & camel walas for further 6 months upto December, 2020.
The meeting was attended by Kewal Kumar Sharma, Advisor to the Lt Governor; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department and Department of Skill Development; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal And Sheep Husbandry Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department; Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government , Labour & Employment Department; Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary to the Government, Youth Services and Sports, Tourism and Culture Departments and other senior officers.
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