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JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today while addressing the 25th Steering Committee Meeting of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), emphasized on the department to work dedicatedly towards achieving the set targets in a given timeframe. The meeting besides Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Ecology & Environment was attended by Principal Secretary, Finance; PCCF; Chief Wildlife Warden; Secretary, Planning; Director, Remote Sensing; CEO, CAMPA and other concerned HoDs of the department.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary took stock of the afforestation efforts made during the past year and the targets achieved during this time. He asked the officers to complete installation of Boundary Pillars (BPs) around the forests across J&K to ensure their protection. He also enjoined upon the concerned to digitise these BPs in order to create digitized maps of all the forest areas. He urged them to give details of the areas treated in lieu of the forest areas that came under Hydro Electric Projects of Kwar, Kiru and Ratlehere.
Dulloo further remarked that forests are lungs of the earth guaranteeing its sustainability. He advised for adopting modern technology to map the highly degraded areas for its treatment on priority basis. On the occasion, Commissioner Secretary, FE&E, Sheetal Nanda, informed the meeting about the role and responsibilities of the Steering Committee in deciding the future course of action to take up the CAMPA works during the year ahead.
She also made out that the Committee had an overarching role of monitoring the department’s activities besides giving necessary directions for utilization of resources to achieve the desired goals. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Suresh Kumar Gupta, gave out that the scheme is being implemented smoothly in the UT, obtaining tangible results over the years. He said that installation and digitization of BPs around the forests had been achieved to a larger extent with the left out forests to be demarcated in the year or two ahead.
He asserted that the department has established strong internal and social audit mechanisms, including inter-range and inter-divisional checks, alongside monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting formats to monitor the outcomes of this CAMPA scheme. Moreover, it was given out that the public transparency is being maintained through the e-Green Watch portal, where data from 3,410 projects (including geotagged coordinates) is accessible.
Elaborating further, CEO CAMPA, T. Rabi Kumar, revealed that the third-party evaluations show improved survival rates. The third party evaluation (2012–2019) reported a 50% survival rate and in the next phase (2019–2022), conducted by AFC India Limited, survival rates improved significantly to 62.70%, with Kashmir at 65.40% and Jammu at 60%.
Giving the financial overview of this scheme as on March 2024, it was divulged that a total of Rs 851.65 crore were available with an approved outlay of Rs 276.27 crore for FY 2024-25. It was further added than an expenditure of Rs 153.67 was booked during this year leaving a balance of Rs 727.66 crore available with the department.
As far as the outcomes over the past 15 years are concerned, the meeting was apprised that during 2010-11 to 2024-25, a substantial amount of forest land has been treated under CAMPA initiatives, with the total area afforested reaching thousands of hectares. A significant financial commitment of Rs 1369.76 crore has been made during this period.
In addition, it was given out that the CAMPA budget has seen consistent increase over the years, peaking at Rs 153.67 crore in FY 2024-25 with corresponding increase in year-wise plantation efforts. These efforts are aimed at enhancing green cover, improving biodiversity, and mitigating the impact of climate change. The Annual Plan Outlay (APO) for the fiscal year 2025–26 was presented and approved, with a total proposed outlay of Rs 193.72 crore, of which, Rs 170.47 crore have been proposed under the forest sector activities and Rs 23.25 crore under wildlife conservation.
Regarding different components of APO, the Compensatory Afforestation has an outlay of Rs 12.71 crore, Additional Compensatory Afforestation Rs 7.27 crore, NPV (Forest) Rs117.96 crore and NPV (Protected Areas) Rs 23.25 for the ensuing year.
The Committee also reviewed and approved several key targets for the upcoming fiscal year. These included Plantation & Assisted Natural Regeneration on 14,680 hectares, Soil & Moisture Conservation Works on 6,468 hectares, Forest Protection Works (Fencing etc.) on 8,087 hectares, Fire Protection Measures on 2,061 km (firelines), establishment of 163 Nurseries and plantation of 1.82 crore saplings to be planted generating 20.24 lakh casual labour man days across the UT.
Later, the Chief Secretary also released the ‘Annual Asian Water bird Census’ (AWC 2025) of 26 wetlands/ waterbodies of Kashmir valley. The Count was conducted simultaneously in all the major water-bodies along with lesser-known wetlands of the valley which included Hokersar, Shallabugh, Hygam, Mirgund, Wullar Lake Badinambal, Narkara, Nigeen Lake, (6 associated wetlands, Anchar Lake, Dal Lake, and wetlands from Pampore viz., Manibugh, Kranchoo, Chatlum and Fashkhoori.
It was revealed that the activity was conducted by 160 volunteers including NG0s, Bird Lovers, students from Kashmir University and SKUAST-K along with the staff of Wetlands Division and North Division. The survey culminated into recording a total of 13,43,506 number of birds belonging to 67 species in all the wetlands. Hokersar contributed 29.97 % of the total birdcount followed by Shallabugh (29.44%) and other wetlands (40.59%). On the occasion, the Chief Secretary launched two mobile apps pertaining to monitoring of CAMPA works and its nursery module for real time updation of data by the concerned to chase the targets on time.
UDHAMPUR: In a significant move towards creating a feasible ecosystem for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme was launched today in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory with the successful conduct of the first District-Level RAMP Awareness Workshop in Udhampur.
The event, held here at the ITI college, was jointly organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) and Grant Thornton Bharat LLP (SPIU for RAMP), in collaboration with the District Industries Centre (DIC. The event marked the beginning of a series of district-level outreach programs designed to build awareness and capacity among MSMEs, stakeholders, and implementing agencies under the RAMP initiative.
The RAMP scheme, an initiative of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, supported by the World Bank, is a strategic intervention aimed at revitalizing the MSME sector across India. With a national outlay of ₹6,062.45 crore till FY 2026–27, the scheme focuses on improving market access, financing, digital adoption, greening enterprises, streamlining compliance, and enhancing institutional capacity.
Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated ₹74.03 crore under the scheme, including ₹66.63 crore as the central share and ₹7.40 crore as the UT’s contribution. The Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, has been entrusted with the responsibility of the scheme across the UT. The Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) has been nominated as the Nodal Agency for overall coordination and execution and Implementation of RAMP-related activities.
Managing Director, JKTPO Sudarshan Kumar underlined the strategic significance of the RAMP scheme for the UT. “This scheme directly addresses the on-ground challenges faced by MSMEs, from access to credit and markets to skilling and formalization. Under the guidance of Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, we are committed to ensuring that the RAMP scheme becomes a game changer for MSMEs across Jammu and Kashmir.”
The SPIU Team delivered a detailed presentation, outlining the approved interventions under the RAMP scheme in J&K. These interventions include the formalization of MSMEs through Udyam Registration in the UT of J&K, MSME packaging and publicity of GI/ODOP/DEH/unique products from J&K, and the establishment of producer companies/associations for GI/ODOP/DEH/unique products under cluster development programmes. Additionally, the scheme encompasses buyer-seller meets(BSMs) and reverse buyer-seller meets (RBSM), the Jammu & Kashmir MSMEs Health Clinic, the J&K Ramp M&E Dashboard, Entrepreneurship and skill development programmes (ESDP), Management Development and upskilling of existing entrepreneurs (MDPs), and the penetration of digital financing.
The workshop witnessed active participation from MSME entrepreneurs, officials, and stakeholders. Key functionaries present included Kishor Singh Katoch, General Manager, DIC Udhampur, and Sourabh Sharma, General Manager, JKTPO. SPIU consultants and officials from the Department of Industries and Commerce and ITI Udhampur responded to various stakeholder queries, reaffirming the government’s commitment to grassroots-level implementation.
Furthermore, Management Development Programmes (MDPs) have been initiated in 15 districts across J&K by JKEDI starting from April 15, 2025. Moreover, the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kashmir has launched a dedicated Awareness cum Formalization Drive today, targeting unregistered enterprises in the Kashmir division, thereby paving the way for broader inclusion under government schemes..
The event concluded with a collective commitment from all stakeholders to maximize the benefits of the RAMP scheme across districts, ensuring that J&K’s MSMEs emerge stronger, more competitive, and more resilient.
JAMMU: The Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, in collaboration with the district administration, Tourism and Education departments, is going to celebrate World Heritage Day on 18th of April, 2025 in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
In Kashmir division, an early morning cleanliness drive will be held at Hari Parbat Fort, Srinagar followed by Pledge and Heritage Walk. Similarly, in Jammu Division, an early morning cleanliness drive will be held at Samba Fort in Samba District, followed by Pledge for Preserving Cultural Heritage and Heritage Walk.
On the eve of World Heritage Day, the Department has announced Free entry for all to SPS Museum, Srinagar and Dogra Art Museum, Jammu with an aim to facilitate all sections of society to have glimpse of the Rich Cultural Heritage and symbols of Historical Importance.
Further, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums is organizing day long Archival exhibition at Archival Repository in Jammu and at Art Gallery Museum, Old Assembly Complex, Srinagar, in order to have glimpse of historical monuments of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Department has urged all to participate in the World Heritage Day Celebration, visit the Exhibitions being organized and avail the incentive of free entry to Museums.
JAMMU: The Department of Economics, University of Jammu, today hosted an engaging lecture on "Entrepreneurship Development: Emerging Trends and Future Opportunities." The session aimed to spark interest in entrepreneurship and shed light on the growing possibilities in this field. Dr. Abuid Hussain Parrey, Assistant Professor at The Business School, University of Jammu delivered the lecture.
Dr. Parrey spoke about the increasing relevance of entrepreneurship in today’s world, calling it a key contributor to both economic progress and social change. He outlined the key traits of successful entrepreneurs—such as creativity, the ability to take risks, persistence, and leadership—and explained how these qualities help shape business journeys.
Focusing on India, and Jammu and Kashmir in particular, Dr. Parrey discussed areas that hold great promise for new business ventures. He placed special focus on agripreneurship—business initiatives in the agriculture sector—and shared inspiring success stories of Indian entrepreneurs who have made a real difference. He also talked about India’s growing start-up culture, referring to the rise of unicorns and decacorns—start-ups valued at over a billion dollars—and how these ventures are reshaping the economy and motivating young entrepreneurs across the country.
Toward the end of the session, Dr. Parrey introduced participants to several government-backed schemes and resources available to support new business ideas. These include the JKEDAI Startup Policy, KVIC schemes, District Industries Centres, and NABARD programs. The session received a positive response from students, educators, and aspiring entrepreneurs, offering them practical knowledge and a clearer understanding of the opportunities available in the start-up world today.
KATRA: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University – Technology Business Incubation Center (SMVDU-TBIC) had the privilege of hosting Mr. Pranav Gupta, Senior Principal Consultant at Infosys and a global expert in the digital transformation of industrial systems.A proud native of Jammu, Mr. Gupta is a seasoned industry leader with over two decades of experience. He has successfully led multi-million-dollar digital transformation initiatives across the globe.
His distinguished career includes scaling portfolios from $0 to $20 million, building high-performing teams, and implementing next-generation technologies such as Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR). His visit marks a significant milestone for the TBIC community.The welcome ceremony was attended by the SMVDU-TBIC team, including Dr. Sanjay Mohan, CEO of SMVDU-TBIC, Mr. B.K. Bhatia, Training & Placement Officer, and Ms. DivyeDuheta Mahajan, Manager, SMVDU-TBIC.
The team extended a warm welcome to Mr. Gupta and briefed him on various initiatives undertaken at TBIC under the leadership of Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor of SMVDU.During the session, Mr. Gupta emphasized the importance of digital transformation not only as a tool for remaining competitive but also as a means to enrich the experiences of customers, employees, and communities. He shared deep insights into emerging technologies, strategies for digitizing core business operations, and the importance of cultivating a data-driven, agile, and innovative organizational culture.
A recognized social media influencer and thought leader in the tech industry, Mr. Gupta’s association with SMVDU-TBIC is expected to bring enhanced visibility, mentorship, and strategic guidance to startups incubated at the center. His involvement is anticipated to drive a new era of innovation and industrial modernization at TBIC.
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