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FCIK seeks ZoneB industrial category for entire Kashmir division

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FCIK seeks ZoneB category

Hails LG Sinha for securing J&K IDS 2021 from centre

BK News

Srinagar, Jan 11: Hailing Lt Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha for securing an industrial package for Jammu and Kashmir from the central government, FCIK has sought categorisation of entire Kashmir division, and other far-flung districts, under ZoneB.

LG on Thursday announced a special industrial package, ‘Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K IDS 2021)’ approved by the PM Modi led Union Government with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore for a period of 16 years from 2020-21 to 2036-37.

While appreciating some of the incentives incorporated in the scheme, the Federation Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), an apex body of the valley-based industrialists, said that entire Kashmir division and some other disadvantageous districts needed to be put under Zone B for obtaining maximum benefit for the scheme.

All the districts of J&K are categorised in ZoneA and ZoneB, as per the industrial development, quantum of investment and ease of setting of industries like communication, infrastructure, and other facilities. Those districts, which fall under B Zone due to lack of facilities are provided extra incentives in capital investment, interest subvention etc to encourage industrialisation and attract investment in those industrially backward districts.

Presently Kulgam, Shopian, Bandipora and Kupwara in Kashmir, and Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu district are categorised as ZoneB.

FCIK, in a written statement, said the members of the federation in a meeting called to discuss the new scheme while analysing components of the package observed that some of the incentives incorporated in the scheme were worth appreciating. But at the same time some vital incentives which should have found a place in the scheme were missing causing apprehensions on the achievement of the ambitious objectives, it said.

“Affording differential incentives to different zones had the potential to take industrialisation programme to far-flung areas for an equitable, balanced and sustainable socio-economic development of the region as was stated by the Lt Governor,” it said.

Justifying the reason for placing entire Kashmir in Zone B category, the FCIK said, “The members during the meeting regretted that the previous policy of 2002 that provided for uniform incentives lacked this basic understanding which led to inequitable growth and concentrated investment in just three out of 22 districts of the erstwhile state with about 90% of the incentives going there only.”

Whereas the new enterprises might take time to complete their ventures and initiate the process of employment, FCIK said the existing enterprises, if supported, had the potential of generating jobs immediately besides putting their fully or partially locked up assets to use.

While appreciating the ‘intention and vision’ of the Lt Governor for promotion of industry equitably in every nook and corner of J&K, FCIK said as such it was important that the package announced fulfilled his vision and does not miss the targeted objectives.

Vital interventions missing: FCIK president

FCIK also said that along with the central package, the industry would require many interventions at the UT level for facilitating and boosting the morale of entrepreneurs.

The federation expressed gratitude to the Lt Governor for putting in his hectic efforts in convincing the central government that the industrial sector in J&K had been craving for support and obtaining Centre’s approval for the scheme.

President FCIK Shahid Kamili said that the new industrial policy despite having many fruitful provisions had some deficiencies to meet the targeted objectives.

He said despite presenting difficulties and aspirations of the local industry to the central ministers and UT authorities, and their assurances, some of the vital interventions required for revival and growth of industry were missing in the package.

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Industry

Industrial Association Lassipora dismayed over ‘unprofessional behaviour’ of J&K Bank branch manager 

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Industrial Association Lassipora dismayed

Appeal LG, CEO J&K Bank for replacement 

Srinagar, Feb 1: Requesting Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and J&K Bank Managing Director and CEO to replace the branch manager of the bank at the estates, the Industrial Association of Lassipora (IAL) has expressed dismay over what it called the unprofessional attitude of the branch head at IGC Lassipora.

In a written statement issued to Business Kashmir, the IAL said the manager heading the J&K Bank branch in Lassipora is displaying “unethical behaviour and unprofessionalism” towards the industrialists located at the branch.

“The branch manager’s lack of knowledge and understanding of the MSME sector has resulted in several complaints from the industrial unit holders and has raised concerns among the industries that form the backbone of the local economy,” read the statement.

Lassipora is home to over 500 micro, small, and medium-scale industries, making it one of the largest industrial growth centres in Jammu and Kashmir.

Given the vital role that banking plays in the development of industries, it is essential that banks located in the vicinity of industrial areas have personnel trained in the handling of MSMEs, it said.

The Reserve Bank of India has emphasized the importance of MSMEs as a priority sector for commercial banks.

“Therefore, the Industrial Association of Lassipora respectfully requests the Honorable Lieutenant Governor and the Managing Director & CEO of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited to replace the current branch manager with a professional who possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively handle the MSME sector,” read the statement, adding, “Such a change would significantly contribute to the growth and development of the local industries in Lassipora.”

Highlighting the significance of the MSME sector in India, IAL called on the UT and J&K Bank authorities to take necessary measures to ensure that the operations of the J&K Bank branch in Lassipora are carried out in a fair, professional, and efficient manner.

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Finance

Desist from levying commitment charges: FCIK to J&K Bank

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FCIK to J&K Bank

Jasir Haqani

Srinagar, Dec 18: Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged on J&K Bank authorities to withdraw their latest decision regarding levying of ‘Commitment Charges’ on the unutilised portion of the loans and credit lines provided to the enterprises.

While expressing its displeasure, the FCIK in a statement issued to Business Kashmir said that it was for the first time in the history of J&K Bank that borrowers were being made to pay for loans or the portion of loans which actually they didn’t lift or utilize. The bank would not so far levy such charges probably in acknowledgement of the un-conducive working atmosphere.

According to the guidelines issued by RBI, levying of commitment charges was not mandatory upon the financing banks but discretionary, and it was left to the wisdom of banks to charge or not to charge it, said the FCIK.

“If the plea of the bank was that they could have earned interest on the unutilised portion of the loan, had they lent it to other borrowers, the question could be asked about the gap between their credit flow and permissible limit of lending which continues to be huge despite some narrowing in the recent past,” reads the statement.

FCIK agreed that J&K Bank had been extending some small concessions including waiver of commitment charges to the borrowers of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, but that was only peanuts in reciprocity to the gesture that 88.2% of the total deposits of the bank comes from the kith and kin of these borrowers at an unprecedentedly low rate of just 3.67%  which was the lowest than available to any other national or commercial bank in the country.

While criticizing the decision, FCIK questioned the wisdom of the bank to perceive that the condition of entrepreneurs had changed for to better now to take additional brunt even after facing long spells of business interruptions from the 2014 floods to the aftermath of the Covid-19 situation. The bank should know that currently the product market appetite ran at its lowest ebb for the complexities caused by these situations besides the change in policies which obviously resulted in the lifting of lower amounts from sanctioned credit lines, reads the statement.

Hailing the prudent entrepreneurs for lifting only the required portion of the amount out of their sanctioned credit line in tune with market demand for their products, FCIK cautioned the bank not to force them to lift entire sanctioned loans for illegally siphoning it off towards any other non-bonafide activity. It was as such imperative upon the bank to withdraw the decision of levying commitment charges till the product market appetite stabilized.

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Industry

7 out of 10 industrial centres in Kashmir headless: FCIK

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FCIK to J&K Bank

Seeks LG’s intervention

Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) Wednesday said seven out of district industrial centres in Kashmir are headless, proving a roadblock in industrial development.

According to a statement issued to the Business Kashmir, during the FCIK advisory committee meeting, members expressed regret that seven out of 10 District Industries Centres (DICs) in the valley had presently been rendered headless which include DICs of Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara, Kulgam, Shopian and Bandipora.

The members questioned the bureaucracy that why should it ignore replacements in DICs during routine transfers of officers when it was aware that the role of DICs in promoting, facilitating and developing industry in the district was pivotal and critical. They said that assigning of the additional charge of DICs to officers already overburdened with their own jobs, generates more distrust and scepticism than giving any hope and solace to the entrepreneurs, the members said.

Quoting an example, the members informed that General Manager DIC Baramulla who also held two more charges of GM DIC Kupwara and Programme officer ICDS at the time of transfer in March 2022 was not replaced by any other officer. Instead, the additional charge was assigned to GM DIC Budgam in May  till 17th of November when he was also transferred rendering both the DICs of Baramulla and Budgam unmanned simultaneously. The members said that DICs of Kupwara and Bandipora were now forgotten for years.

Speaking on the occasion, President Shahid Kamili said that FCIK had time and again taken up the matter of appointment of GMs with relevant authorities but it was unfortunate that instead of filling the vacant positions, many more DICs were eventually rendered headless.

The FCIK in the meeting, according the statement, has called for a considerable degree of internal cohesiveness through well-meaning and accountable bureaucracy to accomplish and foster the ambitious industrialisation process launched by the government for UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The presidents of various industrial estates, while registering their problems, complained of the bureaucratic hick-ups and callousness in facilitating the prospective entrepreneurs to set up their industrial ventures besides timely resolution of issues confronting smooth operations of the existing industry,” read the statement.

“The presidents cautioned that in case the bureaucratic hurdles continued without any checks and accountability, the same can harm the ambitious plan and may also produce results in the opposite direction.”

They said that the industrialisation programme would require restructuring of the whole hierarchy in the industries department with a clear chain of command that decide about matters rapidly and also delegates powers to subordinate team members. A set of officers having clear understanding of industrial promotion and dynamism in the approach needs to be put in charge of various positions for a longer duration of not less than 2-3 years, observed the members.

The meeting resolved to approach and seek the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor for taking note of the “non-seriousness on the part of the concerned bureaucracy” and issue directions for the immediate transfer of capable officers to fill the vacancies in the above-mentioned DICs. It was also decided in the meeting that FCIK shall soon submit a detailed note on the desired hierarchy of officers in industries and related departments along with their functions for the consideration of the Lieutenant Governor.

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