A seminar of Laghu Udhyog Bharti (Micro, Medium & Small Scale Industries) organised by Laghu Udhyog Jammu and Kashmir was held at Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra Leh on 24th June.

 

Minister of State for Finance GoI Arjun Ram Meghwal was the chief guest.

 

The Union Minister Meghwal urged them to adopt the border village of Demjok and other nearby two villages of Changthang by providing basic facilities saying that this would not only help to improve the living standard of the nomads but would also give a boost in Pashmina sector. 

Hearing of rich presence of mineral deposits in Ladakh, the minister further urged the industrialists to discuss with LAHDC Leh for possible set up of limestone, granite, uranium and other mineral industries in the district which will help improve the economic condition of the district as a whole. He also assured of all possible help from the Central government to make effort to eradicate the existing regional imbalance.  

Minister Meghwal also assured of providing required funds for completion of the incomplete works of Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra. He asked to submit the detailed project report in this direction.

Dr. Sonam Dawa, Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh mentioned of availability of huge repositories of quality granite,uranium, borax and other minerals in Ladakh and urged upon the Industrialists to invest wholeheartedly in exploring these treasures which would not only help for economic benefits of this region but also ensure huge gain to the country as a whole. 

Dr. Dawa further said that opening of  Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage road via Demchok-Ladakh has been a long standing demand of this region. 

He said conducting of Chhota-Kailash Yatra in Demchok by a large Industrialist group representing 10 States of the country would prove the first step towards opening the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra road via Ladakh. 

He extended thanks to Govt. of India for granting permission for performing Chhota-Kailash Yatra in Ladakh commenced from this year and added that tourism industry in Ladakh would witness a further boost with this yatra.  He requested the Industrialists to contribute in Ladakh’s development by expanding their reach to the remotest areas of this region under Medium and Micro Industry policies.

Chhering Dorje, Ladakh Affairs and Cooperative Minister said that this would considerably help to achieve the early opening of Kailash Yatra road via Ladakh which would be the shortest as well as the easiest approaching road to Kailash and Mansorovar.

Referring the long distance and high transportation charges, Dorje acquainted of having a huge scope of cement industry in Ladakh. The Minister also mentioned of having large business potential in areas like Pashmina, Seabuckthorn, granite, minerals etc and urged the Industrialists to think for investment in these sectors. 

He strongly urged upon the MOS Union Finance Minister to provide sufficient funds for proper development of Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra, Leh which is lying incomplete since long in the wake of non-availability of funds. He also mentioned about Ladakh’s vast potential in tourism sector mainly in adventure and spiritual tourism.

Chander Prakash Ganga, minister for Industries & Commerce J&K stressed on giving importance to medium and small scale industries. He then reassured of all possible help from the state government and also of his next months’ visit with all his HODs to Ladakh. He also spoke about the constant need to preserve one's root culture and tradition.