New framework seeks to revive underutilised CFCs, promote local entrepreneurship and protect government assets; allotments to be made through open, competitive process for three years
LEH: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has notified a comprehensive framework governing the allotment, operation and management of Common Facility Centres (CFCs), with a stated focus on putting underutilised public assets to productive use, supporting local entrepreneurship and strengthening livelihood opportunities in the handloom, handicrafts and allied sectors.
The guidelines, notified by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce will come into force with immediate effect and apply to existing as well as future CFCs under the administrative control of the Industries and Commerce Department, unless specifically exempted.
The move assumes significance as the notification notes that a significant proportion of CFCs established by the department have remained underutilised or non-operational in the absence of a structured and legally enforceable mechanism for their allotment and management.
The new framework seeks to ensure that these facilities are used efficiently and transparently for promoting handloom and handicrafts, developing local enterprises, generating sustainable livelihoods, creating skill-development opportunities and facilitating value addition, processing and market linkages, particularly in rural and remote areas of Ladakh.
The framework provides eligibility to a wide range of local entities, including Self-Help Groups, cooperatives, registered societies, NGOs, individual artisans, entrepreneurs, producer groups and ex-trainees of departmental training programmes, provided they are bona fide residents of Ladakh and are demonstrably engaged in handloom, handicrafts or allied sectors.
Entities or individuals blacklisted by any government agency, or found involved in financial irregularities, misappropriation of public funds or misuse of government assets, will not be eligible. The allotment process has been designed around competition and transparency. CFCs will be allotted through open public advertisement, with adequate publicity and equal opportunity for eligible applicants.
Applications will be scrutinised by a duly constituted District-Level Selection Committee, which will assess proposals on parameters including technical feasibility, the applicant’s experience and track record, financial and managerial capability, employment-generation potential and the likely benefit to the local community. The committee’s recommendations will be placed before the Competent Authority for approval, whose decision will be final.
Ordinarily, a CFC will be allotted for a fixed period of three years from the date of execution of the Licence Agreement. Any extension beyond the initial period will not be an automatic right and will be considered only after a comprehensive review of the allottee’s performance, compliance with the agreement and continued relevance of the activities being undertaken.
CFCs must be used strictly for the purposes for which they are allotted, including production, processing, training, storage, value addition and other allied functions in the handloom and handicrafts sector.
The Industries and Commerce Department will periodically monitor the functioning and utilisation of CFCs through inspections, record verification and assessment of outcomes. If a facility is found to be underutilised, mismanaged or failing to serve its intended objectives, the Competent Authority may issue warnings, impose conditions or terminate the allotment.
Significantly, the guidelines also authorise the Audit and Inspection Wing of the Finance Department to inspect records concerning CFC operations and verify compliance with financial conditions, utilisation of government assets and realisation of government revenue.
All financial transactions, procurement, maintenance, disposal of assets and accounting of receipts and expenditure will be governed by the General Financial Rules, 2017, Delegation of Financial Powers Rules and other applicable government financial regulations.
