J&K units to be asked to employ 90% locals

To solve the growing unemployment, the Jammu and Kashmir government may make it mandatory for the new industries to give 90 per cent of its jobs to locals.

"Ensuring maximum employment for locals in the new industries will be one of the main criterion for getting approval," said A Sahasranaman, J&K principal secretary (industries and commerce), at an interactive session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Investment worth Rs 1,000 crore was expected in the state after the announcement of a special package by the Centre, he said. Leading pharmaceutical, chemicals and textiles companies had shown interest in investing in the state, Sahasranaman said.

The state government's new industrial policy also extended a number of benefits to the new industries, he said. The policy aimed at developing skills in workers to improve their chance of getting a jobs, he added.

On a CII recommendation to promote infotech and IT-enabled services, the principal secretary said a call centre set up in the Valley would be operational soon.

The state government would also make efforts to revive sick units in the Valley, the principal secretary said.

"The government has set up a single-window concept to cut down on delays and unnecessary hassles in setting up industries," he said.

In a presentation on industrial development strategy for J&K, Amit Bansal, head corporate practices, Crisil infrastructure advisory, said special focus should be on tourism, horticulture, wood, infotech and textiles.

Sanjay Puri, chairman of the CII state council, said the chamber would work as an active partner with the state government to accelerate the pace of economic and industrial development of the state.

A number of issues pertaining to ESI, provident funds, land allotments, improving power scenario in industrial estates, reducing penalty for overloading trucks, delays at the Lakhanpur check-post, were taken up by the industry representatives.