Ronik Sharma Advocate J&K
The primary focus of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is on different sectors to enhance skill development and other infrastructures for strengthening of India’s local manufacturing small scale units at micro level. It is very important for economic growth and strengthening of the National economy from every sphere of demand, production, and manufacturing and to make India Self Sustain from any kind of situation in future. The existing talent at local level will also get boost for making the Nation building Policy at gross root level. As per the focal points of this Programme the main purpose is to focus on such sectors where the local manufacturers and small scale units will get benefit for their production and manufacturing of the local goods and items as per the requirements. Recently, the Government of India had announced an economic package of 20 lac crore for systematic reforms and to focus on “Make in India” (Self-Reliant) under this Nation-wide Atma Nirbhar push. In union territory of Jammu and Kashmir there are many such sectors which will also contribute to this process of the self-reliant at micro level. In context with Jammu and Kashmir, we have abundance of untapped resources like fruits and vegetables, forest, minerals, tourism, religious tourism, Plants with Medicinal values, horticulture, floriculture etc.
Various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir for employment generation and economy building:
In Jammu and Kashmir, we have many people who possess different kinds of skills, talent and desire to do something in different sectors at micro level.
Handloom: Jammu and Kashmir is famous for kashdkari embroidery works on handlooms Products i.e weaving by hand. The unique work is famous for weaving by hand in specialised fabrics on such items like kani shawls and ladies suits ,pashmina and raffal shawls,cotton bed sheets, Lois, mufflers etc. Thousands of families are engaged in these kinds of small scale home industries for their livelihood.
Live stock rearing: at present, in Jammu and Kashmir livestock farming at micro level is undoubtedly a money-making business both as large-scale and small-scale and it is another livelihood have been a good source of income for Poor population residing in far flung areas of the J&K. A very little space is required for this small scale business.
Protection of Wild life and forests: Forest areas have also their own importance in J&K. The major forest products for timber are deodar,chir,kail,fir,walnut wood etc. The natural beauty is found in every densely forest area and wider scope for the wild life santury in J&k.
Crops : wheat, maize, rice, barley,jawar and bajra, saffron sugarcane, oil seeds, pulses all these crops are grown in different parts of the Jammu as well as in Kashmir region and mostly cultivated by the local residents and skilled labourers.
Fruits: the local fruits of the Jammu and Kashmir is very delicious and famous in rest of the Country like Mangoes, plum, peccanut, peach, apricot,pear, walnuts,Apple, Citrus etc. there is a good horticulture potential in rural well as urban areas of the Jammu and Kashmir but due to lack of resources and skills the production of the fruits not increasing.
Medicinal plants for Ayurvedic: there are many commonly known Medicinal Plants for Ayurvedic purposes found in forest and hilly areas of the Jammu and Kashmir. These Ayurvedic plants are very common in use to treat all kinds of diseases and immunity boost. These plants are Amla, Neem,Hrithki, saptparn, nirgundi,Tulsi, vasa, giloy, gudduchi,Mahanimb, Palash,kuth, Ashwagandha, Aloevera, Babbul, darim,brahmi-booti,kattha,Kikar singhi, Aconitum etc. found in different forest areas in different regions.
Trees: Chinar,walnut, Pine, Apple, willow Cheery,mango,Almond etc. are the most famous trees in J&K their fruits and wood have their own importance.
Craft items: Small Scale manufacturing units in different parts of the Jammu and Kashmir for making utensils of copper and aluminum and other essential items made of clay (earthenware) for daily use items for different purposes.
Sericulture: a large number of families and their number in thousands engaged in extraction of the Silk fiber. There are various reasons for declining in the silk industry due to the lack of equipments and problems in the expansion of mulberry trees. The production of raw silk is very low and lack of attention to the plantation.
Apiculture: honey extraction through Bee keeping is a very common practice in our rural areas therefore apiculture industry must be boosted and strengthen this can also become a big source of earning for Rural people.
Floriculture: floriculture needs to be expanded in various areas of the Union territory this can become also a big source of earning for flower growers in J&K.
Handicraft: the handicraft items and goods of the Jammu and Kashmir occupies an important position at the National levels and it includes Carpets, pashmina Shawls, embroiderical clothes,Wood Carving,blankets, valuable crafts etc. The superior quality products have a great market value and the production of these handicraft sector has increased the demand of these items and goods.
Sports items manufacturing units: There is a huge demand of cricket bats made of willow wood in different parts of the country. Small units are setup at different locations in J&K.
Adventure sports: water sports, winter sports
mountaineering and trekking, camping etc. are the popular adventure sports in Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Minerals Resources: There is a wider scope of important minerals resources found in J&K like Limestone, Coal ,copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, chromium, gold, arsenic,
Marble, Granite, Slate Gypsum, Dolomite, Quartzite besides building stones etc.
Tourism: In Rural areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has great potential of tourism. There are many such tourists spots, hill stations,famous places which can easily attract the tourists to enjoy such Natural atmosphere, snow bound hills, Greenery,peaks etc.
Religious Tourism: there are many famous Ancient religious places of every religion in almost all districts of the Jammu and Kashmir but till date no such facilities are available for the stay of tourists as well as pilgrims. These sacred holy Shrines must be developed as per the tourism point of view so that the local populace will also get benefit with the increase of tourists and pilgrims.
Vocal for local
It is the need of the hour to come together, encourage and support the manufacturing of the local products, their productions and small scale businesses to boost its economy and to revive Indian economy. The local manufactured products will definitely helps us in any crisis and also help us in survive. For such improvement, production and efficiency there is a need to improve various factors:
Vocational training institutes: It is an important aspect for providing training to all skilled and unskilled farmers, labourers and workers who are actively involved in all such activities of growing fruits, vegetables, handloom, farming, sericulture, horticulture, craft and handicrafts etc. The training programs and workshops for these people would definitely increase the potential and other modern methods and techniques increase the production of all such food, fruit and other items at micro level.
Local Skilled labourers: in far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir many local skilled labourers must be trained for more production works because they are without the knowledge of modern technology and lack of information due to the non availability of the communication they cannot promote their skilled works.
Preservation of Vegetable and fruits: The local fruits growers are facing many problems and difficulties due to the non availability of such cold Storage facilities for processing fruits and vegetables in far flung areas. There are no such modern facilities at local levels for preservation of fruits and vegetables among the oldest methods of preservation are drying, refrigeration, and fermentation. Modern methods for preservation of fruits include canning, pasteurization, freezing, irradiation etc.
If the union territory administration focuses on Atman Nirbhar Bharat in context with Jammu and Kashmir they need to board skilled and non skilled local people altogether and need to be encouraged and provided with basic vocational training workshops, loans on simple terms and conditions, setting up of new manufacturing units, also providing support for preservation of food and vegetables marketing the same at National and international level. If all these suggestions are taken care of than Jammu and Kashmir can become hub for manufacturing all such items and goods which would definitely provide self employment to local skilled and non skilled populace and very soon J&k can emerge as a Union territory with self reliance and self sufficient funds for catering the needs of the present population as a whole. |
