EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN J&K

Srinagar, Mar 26: More than a decade after the Government of India (GoI) rolled out its ambitious Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) programme, aimed at turning the country into a more investor-friendly destination, the reform narrative appears increasingly at odds with the experience of entrepreneurs on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.

Launched in 2014-15 and anchored in global benchmarks of the World Bank, the initiative promised to simplify regulatory frameworks, reduce compliance burdens and bring transparency through digitisation.

India’s steady climb in global rankings from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2020 was projected as a strong endorsement of these reforms.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the push gathered pace after 2016 with the adoption of the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), extending the framework to states and union territories.

The administration introduced a series of measures, including online single-window systems, digitised approvals and integration of multiple departments, all aimed at streamlining processes and improving investor confidence.

Official assessments suggest that a majority of the mandated reforms have been implemented, positioning J&K as an emerging hub for industrial investment, particularly in the MSME sector.

However, feedback from stakeholders paints a more nuanced picture.

Entrepreneurs and industry participants point to persistent structural and operational bottlenecks that continue to dilute the intended impact of these reforms.

A key concern is the fragile IT infrastructure across departments.

While online portals have been introduced, users frequently report technical glitches, inconsistent performance and limited user-friendliness.

In several instances, even officials are said to be inadequately trained to handle digital systems, leading to delays in processing applications.

“Sometimes the portal doesn’t work for days. We are left with no option but to run from office to office,” said a Srinagar-based entrepreneur.

More critically, the persistence of parallel compliance mechanisms has emerged as a major hurdle.

Business owners often find themselves navigating a two-step process – first uploading documents online and then submitting the same paperwork physically to government offices.

“We upload everything online, but still have to submit hard copies. It feels like double work,” said a small manufacturer from Pulwama.

This duplication not only defeats the purpose of digitisation but also adds to costs, delays and procedural fatigue.

For many in the MSME sector, which forms the backbone of the region’s industrial economy, these challenges are even more pronounced.

Limited digital literacy, patchy internet connectivity and reliance on intermediaries continue to restrict effective access to the system.

“The system is online, but not everyone knows how to use it. We end up paying agents just to get basic work done,” said a young entrepreneur from Baramulla.

The much-touted single-window mechanism, stakeholders say, often functions as a “single-entry, multiple-exit” process, with applications moving through multiple departments without seamless backend coordination.

“You apply at one place, but your file keeps moving between departments,” said another business owner.

The emerging picture suggests a disconnect between policy intent and execution.

While reforms are being reported in terms of checklist compliance and rankings, the actual ease of doing business, as experienced by entrepreneurs, remains uneven.

(This report is part one of an ongoing series by Greater Kashmir examining the implementation of Ease of Doing Business in Jammu and Kashmir. The series will highlight gaps in execution, their impact on the business ecosystem, financial implications for entrepreneurs, and the hurdles that continue to impede industrial growth in the region.)