Closure of historical PSUs in JK unacceptable: Hakeem

Srinagar: Chairman people’s Democratic Front( PDF) Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Friday expressed concern over the government’s move to close down and privatise four public sector undertakings PSUs working under industries and commerce department adding that the move would give a serious blow to the employment generation and industrial promotion plans in jammu and kashmir.
In a statement issued on Friday Hakeem while flaying government decision to privatise and auction assets of some PSUs including JKI, SICOP, Handloom Corporation and JK Cements Ltd and JK Minerals in jammu and Kashmir, has said that the move was against the overall interests of the state as it was bound to snatch livelihood of the hundreds of workers besides giving a serious blow to the promotion of industrial culture in jammu and kashmir. He said instead of closing down the PSUs, the government should infuse fresh blood in them to make them profitable enterprises. He said kashmir Filatures under JKI has a significant historical and cultural background and soft stuffed kashmiri silk produced in Filatures has earned a distinct name and fame as a choicest royal attire world over. Similarly, about 2700 small and micro level industries in jammu and kashmir are associated with SICOP to sell their produce to various government departments. ” In view of these facts, the proposal to merge or privatise the PSUs in the Union Territory of Jammu and kashmir was totally unfounded and against the overall interests of the state and the workers, employees and unit holders associated with these organizations. He said merger of handloom development corporation with Handicrafts department too will give a death nail to the various handloom promotion initiatives in vogue in the UT.
Hakeem urged the need to shelve the proposals regarding privatisation and merge of various PSUs adding instead, government should initiatite tresult oriented plans to make these organizations as profitable enterprises, after seeking suggestions from the reputed experts in the field.
Hakeem also expressed his concern over the entry of thousands of outside migratory labourers in herds in the valley without undergoing mandatory health screening at various entry points. He has cautioned the administration against the possible fall out of the unchecked entry of migratory labourers in the valley . He said there were credible reports that thousands of labourers in herds loaded in buses and trucks,each day , are brought to the valley by unknown agents , without having Covid testing, which was apprehended to spread a sever wave of coronovirus infection in nook and corner of the valley , which can not be controlled,if not addressed immediately. ” Dozens of bus and truck loads of outside labourers are being brought into various locations in the valley on daily basis clandestinely by unknown agents without understanding health screening, ” Hakeem observed adding that respective district administration should allow entry of labourers in their respective jurisdiction only after ensuring that they are covid negative and has spacious accommodation to keep mandatory social distance at their work place. “Unchecked influx of outside labourers have caused a wave of anxiety among the local population in kashmir , ” Hakeem said while urging the government to address the genuine concerns and apprehensions of the local people in this regard.