Srinagar, May 16: Kashmir region’s apex industrial chamber – the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) – has expressed its displeasure to what it said the General Administrative Department (GAD)’s approach towards frequent leadership changes in the Industries and Commerce Department, Kashmir, and delayed replacement of officers, particularly the General Managers in District Industries Centres (DICs) of Kashmir Division.
In a statement to Ziraat Times, FCIK regretted that most of DICs remained without full-time General Managers from time to time during past over 3 years, resulting in great inconvenience caused to both existing and prospective entrepreneurs, disrupting their normal work and process.
“Records revealed that 7-8 out of 10 District Industries Centres (DICs) in the valley had been rendered headless from time to time” stated FCIK.
FCIK said that, among others, two most important DICs of Budgam and Pulwama were currently without full-time General Managers, leaving enterprises of the organised industrial estates of Sanat Nagar, Rangreth, Ompora, Budgam, Lassipora, Pulwama, Chatpora, Wuyan, Sempora etc; apart from hundreds of units established in unorganised sector in the lurch.
“While the Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora had made J&K proud after it was declared as South Asia’s largest apple grading-storage Centre recently, hundreds of enterprises housed in the estate continued to suffer on account of a full-time General Manager”, regretted FCIK.
“Besides General Managers, the industry in Kashmir also suffered on account of frequent transfer of the Directors of I&C Kashmir during past three years” stated FCIK.
“While the incumbent Director of I&C Jammu was holding the post since December, 2018, the Kashmir Division witnessed transfer of about 6 Directors during the same period” observed FCIK, adding that currently I&C Kashmir was being looked after by an officer of another department as his additional assignment.
“A set of officers having clear understanding of industrial promotion and dynamism in approach needed to be put in charge of various positions in the Directorate and DICs for a longer duration of not less than 2-3 years”, observed FCIK
FCIK hoped GAD would now act on necessary permanent placements for ensuring a considerable degree of internal cohesiveness through well-meaning and accountable bureaucracy to accomplish and foster the ambitious industrialization process launched by the GOI and Governments of Jammu and Kashmir with an ambitious incentive scheme of Rs 28,400 Crores.
