Jammu,March 22 (Scoop News) – J&K Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjeet Singh Slathia said that the Industries and Commerce Department who looks after the cross LoC Trade and goods worth Rs 52.72 crore and Rs 64.67 crore were exported and imported respectively at Slamabad in Kashmir, while goods worth Rs 59.20 crore and Rs 95.54 crore were exported and imported respectively at Chakkan-da-Bagh in Jammu upto ending January 2010.
This was stated by Slathia while replying to Demand of Grants for the Industries and Commerce Department in the Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister said the Government has taken various steps, including provision of 50 per cent interest subsidy under Handicraft Micro Credit Scheme to the artisans and managerial subsidy to the cooperative societies for promoting carpet industry in the State. He said a proposal for replacement of old carpet looms is also under active consideration.
To promote exports in terms of recent Foreign Trade Policy, districts of Srinagar and Anantnag have been declared as towns of export excellence for five years and the State Government is contemplating to rope in the Export Promotion Council for handicrafts. He said all out efforts are being made to check misuse of Kashmir brand and sale of fake handicrafts items, adding that quality control inspectors and supervisors have been deputed at various craft bazaars, exhibitions and expos within and outside the State to monitor the quality of handicrafts.
The Minister said that an amount of Rs 84785 have been realized as fine from erring traders, who were found selling fake handicraft items in the name of Kashmiri handicrafts. He said Kashmiri Pashmina, Kani shawls and Kashmiri Sozni have been registered under Geographical Indicators Act in a bid to give worldwide protection to these handicrafts. He said a testing laboratory for pashmina has also been sanctioned at Nowshera, Srinagar to give authenticity to the products which will also be tagged through Radio Frequency Identification Tag to protect Kashmir Handicrafts.
Mr. Slathia said in view of the Handicrafts and Handloom sectors, being thrust areas for economic activity, about 653 training centres all over the State have been established to impart training to local craft persons in carpets, Papier Machie, Wood Carving, Namdah, Gabba and Crewel. He said that there is a proposal for increasing stipend from Rs 100 to Rs 500 for basic training and Rs 200 to Rs 700 for advance training, per person per month. For the promotion of local crafts, State Awards are given to 10 Master Craftsmen in recognition to their contribution towards the development of local crafts.
The Minister informed that 17 types of minerals including limestone, gypsum, marble, lignite, granite, coal sapphire have been explored and many mineral based industrial units have come up in the State.
The Minister said SICOP has established 188 industrial units at Batal Ballian, Udhampur, under the centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre.
To give fillip to economic activities, create employment opportunities for the youth and ensuring massive industrialization in the State, The minister said the Government has established about 51 Industrial Estates in various areas. About 25,000 industrial units have been registered to promote industrial culture as industrialization is key to productivity and tackling waxed un-employment problem. These units provide employment to about one lakh un-employed youth.
The Minister reiterated that emphasis is being laid on environment friendly industrial policy and use of pollution control devices at each industrial units is ensured through comprehensive monitoring mechanism. He said a comprehensive drive is being launched to increase green cover in and around the industrial estates.
Later, the Members withdrew their cut motions and the House passed the Demand of Grants amounting to Rs 27678.26 lakhs for the Industries and Commerce Department for the next financial year.