Srinagar: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has welcomed the government’s decision to constitute a three-member committee to draft a comprehensive industrial policy aimed at addressing the needs of the industrial sector and supporting both existing and new industrial units in Jammu and Kashmir.
The committee will be chaired by Shailender Kumar, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Finance, with Vikramjeet Singh, Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, and Amitava Chatterjee, Managing Director and CEO of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, as members.
The decision was announced by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo at the conclusion of a stakeholders’ conference held under his chairmanship in Jammu. The meeting was attended by senior administrative officials, including the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Fire and Emergency Services, the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, and heads of several departments, along with representatives of business chambers from across the Union Territory.
According to FCIK, the Chief Secretary also directed the committee to prioritise the finalisation of the Public Procurement Policy, the Revival and Rehabilitation Policy for sick industrial units, and other pending policy measures requiring urgent attention.
The meeting began with a presentation by Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjeet Singh outlining initiatives taken under the first phase of Ease of Doing Business reforms and proposed measures for the second phase. He also presented suggested amendments to the Industrial Policy 2021–30, while senior officials from various departments highlighted steps taken to facilitate ease of doing business.
During the interaction, FCIK expressed concern over the lack of coordination between the Industries and Commerce Department and other regulatory departments, which it said continues to create operational difficulties for industrial units. The federation said that even routine clarifications often take months, resulting in delays and uncertainty for businesses.
FCIK urged the government to abolish unnecessary conditions attached to routine approvals and allow most clearances to be granted on the basis of self-certification in order to genuinely facilitate ease of doing business.
The federation also emphasised the importance of strengthening District Industries Centres (DICs) and called for restoration of their powers under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act so they can function as effective single-window facilitators for industrial units.
It further stressed that the upcoming industrial policy must ensure “ease of living for industry” before ease of doing business, noting that persistent regulatory and administrative hurdles have made survival difficult for many units.
FCIK also raised concerns over the exclusion of local industries from public procurements over the past five to six years despite the government undertaking capital purchases worth over ₹1 lakh crore. In this context, it called for the early launch of the pending Public Procurement Policy and reiterated its proposal for procurement through Small Industries Development Corporation (SICOP), purchase preference for local industry in government tenders and a stronger local filter on the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The federation also highlighted the issue of revival and rehabilitation of sick industrial units, stating that although a rehabilitation mechanism exists in the Industrial Policy, it has not been implemented effectively. Instead, banks have continued to take recovery actions, including proceedings under the SARFAESI Act.
FCIK proposed the immediate introduction of a Special One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for distressed enterprises and demanded a moratorium on bank actions under the SARFAESI Act until such a mechanism is put in place.
The federation said the policy framework submitted by it after consultations with industry stakeholders focuses on transparent cost equalisers rather than complex incentive structures. It suggested that the government first determine the level of financial support it can realistically extend to industry each year and prioritise neutralising regulatory fees imposed by various departments.
FCIK also proposed incentives such as interest subvention, GST-linked reimbursements, labour-linked EPF and ESI contributions, and support for green technologies including solarisation. It recommended that financial support be routed directly to banks or departments through an automated mechanism to ensure transparency and minimise human interface.
The federation expressed hope that the forthcoming industrial policy would address the sector’s long-standing concerns and create a stable framework for industrial revival and growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
