Industrial Policy-2016

Implementation real challenge

BILAL HUSSAIN

The recent Industrial policy-2016 aimed at ten years from now, encompasses many such initiatives that normally should be part of any policy, which should be considered as half job done, however, the challenge that Jammu and Kashmir faces is the implementation of these strategic documents. Most won’t disagree that non-serious approach by the concerned departments and agencies are the main reasons for the failure of these vision papers.

Over the years the state has crafted and drafted many such policies for lots of sectors however, the lack of monitoring and control mechanism on regular basis on ground dashes them to zero. The present industrial policy could go a long way provided the inclusion of monitoring and control mechanism could have been laid down in the strategic document.

What has to be transformed is the way government departments function in the state as the result of which the industrial sector has suffered in Jammu and Kashmir. The state officials at the helm of affairs have to rethink and work on fixing responsibilities in the concerned departments and then expect the desired results according to the new policy.

Another tragic arrangement that mars the industries in the region is the inter-departmental functioning in the Industries and Commerce Department of the state.  The Industries and Commerce Department of Jammu and Kashmir came into existence in the year 1970 with four Directorates, eight Corporations and four training institutes. The Directorates are as Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Directorate of Handicrafts Development Department, Directorate of Handloom Development Department, and Directorate of Geology and Mining.

The Directorate of Industries and Commerce was further bifurcated in the year 2007 into two Directorates i.e One for Jammu Division & other for Kashmir Division. The corporations/Boards are SIDCO, SICOP, J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, J&K Handloom Development Corporation, J&K Cement Ltd, J&K Minerals ltd., J&K Industries, J&K Khadi & Village Industry Board. Training Institutes are: Craft Development Institute, Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute, School of Designs. The policy makers have to ensure that the concerned departments work cohesively in order to make the new policy successful on the ground else like other vision documents it will meet the same fate.

Besides non-seriousness, lack of monitoring and control mechanism, improper implementation and missing cohesion among the concerned departments; what astonishes anyone is the manner policy targets are set like: ‘To increase the share of manufacturing, services and trade sector in Gross state Domestic Product’ the document misses to mention by how much percentile? Likewise, to attract an investment of at least Rs 2,000 crore per annum in the industrial sector including services, and creation of 15,000 direct and indirect employment, however, the policy document misses how it will be achieved and why Rs 2,000 crore and 15,000 jobs only or why not settle with lesser number,  what is the basis for such calculations? It will be hard to palpitate but the fact is the policy makers have to learn to be honest and truthful with the figures and should be convinced with what they are talking about, not merely to fill blanks with the magic numbers which then never sees the light of day and fool around the commoners.

Agreed that the state has come a long way for decades now however, still long has to be achieved; I am not being cynical or pessimist, however, over the years I have learnt that the society and the state at large can only be developed when proper foundation are laid in the system and the system is to be followed by one and all. And the leaders have to lead by examples.