Jammu, June 10 (KNN) The J&K based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are not confident about 15000 jobs, as claimed by the state government, to be created yearly under the New Industrial Policy.  They see industrial infrastructure as the main challenge towards achieving this figure.

Talking to KNN, Lalit Mahajan, President, Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA), said, “The implementation of the industrial policy can only be beneficial if there is an effective infrastructure.”

The infrastructure of the industrial areas in the state is not good enough to accommodate so many job seekers or new entrepreneurs, he opined.

Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash, while replying to a question by MLA Ghulam Nabi Monga on Thursday, informed that the Industries & Commerce Department do not provide direct employment instead create infrastructure by way of establishment of industrial units.

Prakash said that the new policy intends to create 15,000 employments annually for the unemployed educated youth.

Reacting to this, Mahajan said, “There is no industrial land available here and there is lack of proper power supply too. There is a requirement of marketing support from the state as well as central government. The state we live in, is sitting at the far end of the country. Without the marketing support, we cannot sell the products in any other part of the country.”

Elaborating on the various issues the J&K MSMEs face, he said, “Any new industry will be interested in establishing itself in J&K only when the Central Government extends its package of incentives. The current DAPP package of the Central Government is going to expire on 13th June, 2017. So, any industry has to take this into consideration while taking any decision.”

The small industries in the state have been demanded for the mother industries to be set up here in order to give business to them under procurement policy.

“If the government wants the MSMEs to survive in this area, there should be a promotion of public sectors, instead of big industries. Unlike other states, there is not even a single public sector unit in J&K. For instance, in Kapurthala, the MSMEs have been benefited due to the establishment of rail coach factory. The MSMEs in this area can only be benefited when PSUs are established here and proper incentives are available,” BBIA President said.

Along with this, the MSMEs have also been demanded immediate passage of GST Bill during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.

“We also want concessions in the GST act. If we don’t get concession in the GST act, it will be difficult for us to run the industry over here,” he said. (KNN/ FA)