*Pushes for modernization of KU & JU Music & Fine Arts Institutes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 2: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation status of the four new Labour Codes, one of India’s most significant labour reforms aimed at simplifying compliance systems and improving worker welfare across Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary Labour & Employment, Secretary IT, Secretary Law, Labour Commissioner, Director Industries & Commerce Jammu and other senior officers.
The Chief Secretary noted that consolidation of multiple labour legislations into four streamlined codes marks a major milestone in enhancing the ease of doing business while reinforcing rights and protections for the workforce.
He called for strengthening the institutional and legal frameworks required for the smooth adoption of these codes in the UT. Stressing the importance of stakeholder outreach, he directed the Labour & Employment Department to roll out a sustained IEC campaign and undertake comprehensive capacity-building programmes for employers, workers and implementing agencies.
The Chief Secretary also emphasised the need to ensure full integration with the National Labour Portal so that the reforms are implemented uniformly and transparently. The Chief Secretary further instructed the department to expedite amendments in rules and issue all essential notifications to ensure that compliance under the new regime becomes faster, easier and less cumbersome for all stakeholders.
On this occasion Secretary, Labour & Employment, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, explained that 44 Central labour laws have now been subsumed into four comprehensive codes, creating a unified and modern regulatory framework.
Further the Labour Commissioner, Charandeep Singh informed the meeting that the rationalisation of labour laws has led to a substantial reduction in compliance requirements. He noted that the number of sections has been reduced from 1,228 to 480, rules from 1,436 to 351, registrations from eight to one, and licenses from four to one.
Similarly, the number of forms has come down from 181 to 73, registers from 84 to eight and returns from 31 to a single consolidated return. The number of sections prescribing imprisonment has been reduced from 87 to 22, and new mechanisms such as improvement notices and compounding of offences have been introduced to prioritise corrective measures over punitive action.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary chaired a meeting to review the ongoing expansion and augmentation plans for the Institutes of Music & Fine Arts associated with the University of Kashmir and the University of Jammu.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department; Vice Chancellors of the two Universities; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; and other senior officers.
The Chief Secretary underscored the crucial role of these institutes in nurturing and polishing the artistic and musical talents of J&K’s youth. He observed that both institutes must be developed on modern lines with robust infrastructure to ensure an enabling academic environment for enrolled students.
Calling for a long-term vision, the Chief Secretary directed the Vice Chancellors to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the creation of permanent campuses and future expansion of both institutes. He reviewed the existing bachelor-level programmes and advised the Universities to explore the introduction of additional courses, including postgraduate programmes, in line with emerging needs in the fields of music and fine arts.
Emphasizing the importance of academic excellence, the Chief Secretary urged the Universities to undertake necessary faculty upgradation as per UGC norms and ensure that these institutes receive the same level of support, attention and institutional grooming as other departments under their administration.
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