Jammu, 12-03-2025: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced that approximately 5000 kanals of land have been identified for establishing Industrial Estates in various districts of Kashmir, while intends for 9661 kanals of land have been submitted to the Revenue Department for Jammu division. The Government has reiterated that industries setting up their units in Jammu and Kashmir will be required to provide employment opportunities to local youth, ensuring economic growth that benefits the region’s workforce.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister Incharge for Industry and Commerce, Surinder Choudhary, shared this information in response to a query raised by BJP MLA from Jasrota (Kathua), Rajiv Jasrotia, during a discussion in the Legislative Assembly. Jasrotia emphasized that the Government must strictly enforce the 80:20 employment ratio in favor of local youth, a provision enshrined in the Industrial Development Policy. He pointed out violations of this guideline, alleging that industrialists have reversed the ratio by hiring 80 percent of their workforce from outside the Union Territory. He urged the Government to issue a formal directive mandating industries to ensure that 80 percent of their jobs are allocated to the local population. Expressing concerns over land acquisition, Jasrotia questioned why Government land was not being prioritized for industrial projects and accused local revenue officials of coercing people to part with their land under pressure from property dealers.
Acknowledging that certain irregularities might exist, the Deputy Chief Minister assured the Assembly that the Government would take corrective measures to protect the rights of landowners. He stated that a total of 14,956.15 kanals of land have been earmarked for industrial estates in Jammu division, while 5,532.19 kanals have been transferred in Kashmir over the past two years. Stressing the commitment to safeguarding the interests of the people, Choudhary credited previous National Conference-led governments for their contributions to the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir. He reaffirmed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s vision for industrial growth, emphasizing that such development would never come at the expense of the people’s welfare. Investors planning to set up industries in the Union Territory will be required to offer employment to local youth, reinforcing the Government’s focus on economic empowerment.
Choudhary assured that the administration is committed to ensuring fairness in land allocation and employment opportunities. The industrial expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, must be inclusive and beneficial to the region’s residents. He underscored that the Government has no intention of allowing outsiders to usurp local resources at the cost of the people. He reiterated that the establishment of industrial estates in regions like Kashmir, Jammu, and Gangyal was primarily initiated during National Conference rule, and the present Government is determined to ensure that land belonging to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is not given away indiscriminately. Affirming that local youth have a legitimate right to employment in industries operating within the Union Territory, he said that the Chief Minister had convened several meetings with stakeholders in the industrial sector soon after assuming office. The discussions revealed that the local industry had suffered losses over the past decade and that no substantial efforts had been made to ensure job security for local youth. The Government, he asserted, is committed to reversing this trend.
Elaborating on the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30, Choudhary highlighted its objective to drive industrial growth across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, IT, agriculture, food processing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and herbal and medicinal plants. The policy offers several incentives, such as a 100 percent subsidy on the purchase and installation of DG sets up to Rs 45 lakh, an exemption of stamp duty and court fees on land transactions within Government Industrial Estates, and a 25 percent subsidy on automation. Additionally, industries will receive a 30 percent subsidy on machinery procurement, a quality certification subsidy, a 60 percent subsidy for the purchase and installation of pollution control devices, and a 50 percent subsidy for expenses incurred on adopting environmentally friendly production technology.
To further encourage industrial investment, the policy provides a 100 percent net SGST reimbursement for eligible units registered under GST in Jammu and Kashmir as of March 31, 2021, for a period of ten years. Turnover incentives under the policy include a 3 percent incentive for micro-units and a 2 percent incentive for small, medium, and large units for a period of five years. Choudhary also announced the establishment of a dedicated Entrepreneur and Skill Development Fund, aimed at equipping local youth with the necessary entrepreneurial skills to drive sustained industrial expansion. The initiative will involve training and skill development programs conducted by the J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and other prominent institutions across the country.
On the subject of ease of doing business, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that Jammu and Kashmir has implemented significant reforms to simplify business operations under the Industrial Investments and Business Facilitation Act 2018. The Government has streamlined regulatory frameworks to expedite the grant of licenses, permissions, and approvals, while also reducing procedural complexities. He also informed the Assembly that the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) will function as the region’s primary investment promotion agency, facilitating investor engagement and addressing industrial grievances. The Government has established grievance redressal forums supervised by the Director to ensure timely resolution of industrial concerns.
The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the Central Government’s efforts in boosting industrialization in Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that the Government of India launched a new Central Sector Scheme in 2021, allocating Rs 28,400 crore for industrial development in the region. The scheme, which is in effect from April 1, 2021, until March 31, 2037, is aimed at providing comprehensive support to industries across the Union Territory. Special provisions have been incorporated to support women entrepreneurs, including reserved marks in land allotment criteria and benefits under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Additionally, the Government has approved multiple mining leases and permits for the extraction of essential construction materials to facilitate major infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
Choudhary’s address to the Legislative Assembly underscored the Government’s commitment to fostering industrial growth while ensuring that the interests of the people remain a priority. The policies and incentives outlined by the administration reflect a concerted effort to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of industrial activity while maintaining a strong focus on local employment generation. The Government aims to strike a balance between economic expansion and social equity, ensuring that industrialization does not come at the cost of the region’s people but instead serves as a means to uplift them economically.