 Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 11: Prominent social and strategic affairs commentator Col R.K. Sharma (Retd.) on Saturday called for a comprehensive industrial development policy for Jammu & Kashmir, stressing that sustainable peace, economic growth, and employment are inseparably linked.
Addressing the issue of rising unemployment among educated youth, Col Sharma urged both the Central Government and the Jammu & Kashmir Government to create a conducive environment for establishing large-scale industries across the Union Territory. He also appealed to leading multinational companies to invest in Jammu & Kashmir, saying that industrial expansion would generate meaningful employment opportunities and accelerate the region's economic progress.
He observed that unemployment remains one of the biggest challenges confronting the youth and warned that prolonged idleness can lead to frustration and social instability. "Peace and development are interconnected. Productive employment keeps the youth engaged, motivated, and contributes to a stable and prosperous society," he said.
Col Sharma specifically highlighted the potential of J&K's indigenous products to drive micro and small-scale industries. Citing the example of Kaladi, the traditional dairy product of the Jammu region, he said that with proper branding, packaging, and cold-chain support, Kaladi and other local dairy products can be transformed into a major employment generator.
"Kaladi from Udhampur, Ramnagar and Doda already has a huge demand. If we set up modern dairy processing units, FPOs, and food parks around it, thousands of youth can get employment in milk collection, production, packaging, marketing and retail. A 'Jammu Kaladi' brand can compete nationally and even be exported, just like Amul did for Gujarat," Col Sharma stated.
He added that similar opportunities exist in milk, cheese, and other value-added dairy products. This will not only provide income to farmers and dairy producers but also create jobs in logistics, food processing, and tourism sectors linked to local cuisine like the famous Kaladi Kulcha. |
