Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: Bringing embarrassment to the PDP-BJP coalition Government in the state, the World Bank has ranked J&K among the worst Indian states for doing business.
In the list of 32 states of the country, J&K stood at 29th rank with 5.93% score and only three states are behind it. Gujarat stood at first rank with 71.14% score in the status of implementation of the 98-point reforms agenda.
The assessment was recorded by World Bank over a six month period from January to June 2015 since the PDP-BJP alliance assumed office.
According to the rank-wise list, only Meghalaya (4.38 %), Nagaland (3.41 %) and Arunachal Pradesh (1.23 %) are behind J&K.
The 98-point action plan on, "Ease of Doing Business", was finalized in December 2014, during a meeting of Chief Secretaries of the states participating in the "Make In India", workshop inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subsequently it was decided to evaluate states to assess progress by June 2015.
The report titled, "Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms", September 2015, gave a detailed review of the implementation of reforms and based the ranking of states on eight specified parameters which include setting up of business, allotment of land, labour reforms and procedure for environment clearance. The parameters also include infrastructure, procedure for registration for tax purposes and inspections for compliance of various norms.
In case of starting a business, J&K has developed a common application form and in context of environment, it has implemented online consent management system for various pollution and environment related clearances and certificates.
On infrastructure parameter, J&K has succeeded to define clear timelines for provisioning of electricity, water and sewerage connections.
In taxes' parameter, J&K has implemented an online system for e-filing of returns, and e-payments under VAT and CST.
The state is laggard in implementation of maximum reforms and needed jump start in each sector including tax registration and compliance, obtaining utilities connection, environment compliance, land allotment and obtaining construction permit, setting up a business and enforcement contracts.
In carrying out inspection, J&K showed nil performance, according to the report.
Apart from Gujarat, other best performing states in implementation of reforms are Andhra Pradesh with score of 70.12%, Jharkhand (63.09 %), Chattisgarh (62.45), Madhya Pradesh (62 %), Rajasthan (61.04%), Orrisa (52.12 %), Maharashtra (49.43 %).
The neighboring states are also far ahead of J&K in the implementation of reforms with Haryana (40.66 %), Delhi (37.35 %), Punjab (36.73 %), Himachal Pradesh (23.95 %). |
