SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) Employees Union has submitted an urgent memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Industries and Commerce, Surinder Choudhary, highlighting critical issues they claim are jeopardising the organisation’s future.
The union has called for immediate measures to address what it describes as “severe challenges” facing SICOP, including the cessation of essential marketing and raw material support for small-scale industries across the Union Territory.
Established in 1975, SICOP was intended to bolster local businesses by providing marketing assistance and access to raw materials. However, in the memorandum, the union claims SICOP’s marketing capabilities have significantly declined, with a previously robust turnover of Rs 1,200 crore now severely reduced. “Over the past three to four years, our marketing capabilities have been severely compromised, affecting thousands of families dependent on the small-scale industry sector, as well as many SICOP employees,” stated the memorandum accessed by KINS news agency.
The union expressed profound concern over employee welfare, revealing that many workers have gone unpaid for months, with outstanding retirement benefits for several individuals. “Our workers have been waiting for their salaries for three to five months, and retirement benefits for several employees remain unsettled. We need immediate intervention to restore our operations,” read the statement.
In its memorandum, the SICOP Employees Union has outlined three primary demands:
Restoration of Marketing and Raw Material Support: The union is seeking the revival of services that help local industries compete against larger players.
Regularisation of Long-term Employees: Many employees with up to 20 years of service still lack job security, a situation the union wants to see addressed.
Pension for All Employees: To secure financial stability post-retirement, the union has requested that all employees be brought under a pension scheme.
The union has voiced its hope that under the Deputy Chief Minister’s leadership, the administration will adopt a “comprehensive approach” to resolve these pressing issues, boosting SICOP and supporting JK’s industrial sector as a whole. “We believe that with your support, we can elevate SICOP to new heights and significantly boost the industrial sector of JK, contributing to national development,” the union stated.
In response, the Deputy Chief Minister has reportedly instructed SICOP’s Managing Director to provide a detailed report on the situation, marking the first step in addressing the union’s concerns. (With KINS inputs)
