Dismal scenario
Even after the abrogation of article 370 on August 5, 2019, the industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir has been very dismal. Due to the clampdown and curfew coupled with curbs on telephones, mobiles and internet during the few months of clampdown resulted in closure of many industrial units not only in Kashmir valley but also in Jammu region.
When authorities eased the restrictions slowly, another lockdown started from March 2020, and it remained in force for months together, not only adding to the problems of small industrial unit holders but dozens of them decided to close down their units as there was no business for them.
In such circumstances, the central government could do little to help these industrial unit holders to carry on their business as the impact of pandemic has been writ large on the economy and especially on the industries.
Recently Ghulam Nabi Azad in his last speech in Rajya Sabha provided figures about the dismal scenario of industries in Jammu and Kashmir. “No new industry is coming up at present; of the 12,997 industries in Jammu, only 5,890 are functional, while 7,160 i.e. 60% are closed and development remains stalled”.
