Policy For Film Shooting
Jammu and Kashmir now has a first-ever film policy, which was unveiled last week by the government in order to make the union territory the first choice of film shooting destination for filmmakers. Under the new policy, the government has set up a Single Window Clearance mechanism; prepared Equipment, Location and Talent Directories, besides offering a host of incentives for filmmakers coming to the UT. The new policy also aims at maximizing the potential of promising local talent and creating livelihood opportunities for many. Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir Film Policy-2021 has been worked out to facilitate the overall growth of the Film Industry; setting up of Jammu and Kashmir Film Development Council; providing hands-on access to Website for Talent Pool and all shooting destinations; development of shooting locales, infrastructure for film screening; the revival of closed cinema halls; up-gradation of existing cinema halls; encouraging setting up of multiplexes and cinema halls; destination marketing for Jammu and Kashmir; organizing Jammu and Kashmir Film festival; restoration and preservation of Jammu and Kashmir Films and many more.
Taking Sports To Next Level
Jammu and Kashmir government is setting up 40 Khelo-India Centres in all 20 districts to give further impetus to sporting culture. Also, 22 Coaches, 11 each for Jammu and Kashmir divisions have been appointed to provide training and mentorship in various sports disciplines. Further, under PMDP, 44 Coaches and 22 Instructors are also being recruited. The government also announced Rs 5 lakh cash award for Rakesh Kumar, an archer from Katra, Reasi who has qualified for Tokyo Paralympics, scheduled to be held from August 24, 2021. Likewise, Rs 2 lakh cash award was also announced for the world-renowned Rifle Shooter, Chain Singh from Doda. For the all-round development of youth, the government has allocated Rs 513 crore in the budget this year. The government has also set a target of 17.5 lakh boys and girls to be engaged in various sports activities across Jammu and Kashmir this year, besides hosting 17 National Events in different sports disciplines with target participation of around 12000 athletes from other States/UTs. The details were divulged by the government on the occasion of the week-long Independence Day Sports Week Celebration-2021.
Weaving Silk
The government has revamped the Government Silk Factory to provide a cocoon consumption market to approximately 50000 cocoon farmers of the Kashmir division. The Government Silk Weaving Factory Rajbagh will now be capable of producing 4,50,000 meters of silk fabric per annum creating a viable economic cycle and employment opportunities both directly and indirectly. In the second phase, the industries department will restore two heritage buildings of the silk factory. This will have a design studio, quality control lab and areas for tailoring where customers can select the fabric and talk to the master tailors for desired designs. Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha has inaugurated the Modernized and Upgraded Government Silk Weaving Factory at Rajbagh, Srinagar marking an important step towards the revival and holistic development of the silk industry in UT. As part of the revival plan, the Century-old Government Silk Weaving Factory Rajbagh has been upgraded and modernized with a project cost of Rs 23.54 crore under the World Bank Funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project.
Promoting Tourism
The government in its major achievement booklet has pointed out a slew of major initiatives taken to boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. The initiatives include the identification of the tourism sector as a “priority sector” for Covid19 vaccination with 80 per cent of tourism service providers vaccinated. The government also stated that one of the highest footfalls of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir was achieved between November 2020 to April 2021 (A threefold jump from 36728 tourists in November 2019 -March 2020 to 113010 tourists in November 2020 to March 2021). The government stated that a Shivratri festival was celebrated in Jammu in March 2021 along with spring celebrations at Srinagar’s famous Badamwari garden on March 20, 2021. A musical event titled Fulkari was organised on March 27, at Mansar and March 28, 2021, in Jammu city. Chenab Tulip festival was held at Jammu in March 2021 along with a Tulip festival and the Wazwan festival at Srinagar’s famous tulip garden was organised on April 4, 2021. An event titled Tapping the Tourism potential of Kashmir was also held along with Another day in Paradise was organised. The foundation of Tirupati Temple laid in Jammu in June 2021 was also done for promoting tourism in the region.
Industrialisation
Jammu and Kashmir will soon have a dedicated industrial scheme drafted by the central government. The scheme is being designed to benefit both MSMEs and larger industries. It will not only encourage new investments but will also nurture existing industries. The new scheme will provide incentives for capital investment, capital interest subvention, capital investment loan, GST linked incentives for plant and machinery, and working capital interest subvention. The details were divulged in a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta with the Union Home Secretary and Union Secretary, Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways. Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce Department was also present in the meeting.
