New Delhi, Sep 2 (UNI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told top industrial bodies from Jammu and Kashmir that the Centre was keen to listen and understand the ground situation as that helped in formulating policies.
She said, 'We are interacting with all the stakeholders in the industry and we have been benefitted from this. We want to keep our ears close to the ground and based on the inputs from various stakeholders, policy changes are made.'
In a webinar with Ms Sitharaman on Tuesday, the industry representatives said that the Centre has to take prompt steps to save the dying industry and the growing unemployment in the union territory.
Ms Sitharaman said that she had met the new J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha who also spoke about greater support and more resources for the UT.
Top industrial bodies from Jammu and Kashmir have demanded a separate industrial policy for the union territory.
Commencing the interaction, J&K Peace Forum chairman, Satish Mahaldar said, 'The primary objective of the meeting was to primarily understand how we can achieve sustainable industrial development in all regions for increasing the rate of growth, value of output, employment, income and overall economic development of the UT.
'The trend in the development of J&K is not encouraging; it has been lagging behind most of the states with regard to the growth of the net state domestic product at current prices. J&K UT is one of those regions in the country where both the demographic situation and level of socio-economic development remains far from satisfactory. '
Top industry bodies of Kashmir have expressed their willingness to help in the economic development of the distressed Kashmiri Pandit Migrant community.
The industry sought incentives and J&K specific industrial policy.
Mr Mahaldar said in the webinar that it was important for the Centre to provide incentives to the industry and special concessions to the Migrant Kashmir Pandit youth to set up businesses.
He said that the industry leaders in the valley had expressed willingness to help the youth in economic development.
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