Srinagar, June 3 (KNS): The business community of Kashmir today criticized the Government of India for excluding them from the special package of Rs 20,000 crore to cushion the economy of people hit by Covid19 lockdown.
“our businesses friends in India have raised voice over the losses suffered by them. The government later announced a package for the people who got affected. We have been excluded from the package as the package was announced for those only who have suffered losses in last two months. But, the businessmen in Kashmir are facing the losses from last ten months,” President KCC&I Sheikh Ashiq said in a presser organised by over 30 trade bodies.
The trade bodies include Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I), Kashmir Traders & Manufacturing Federation (KTMF), Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), PHD Chamber of Commerce (Kashmir Chapter), Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF), Jammu & Kashmir Hotelier Club (JKHC), Jammu & Kashmir Association of Hajj & Umrah Companies (JKAHUC), Kashmir Industrial Revival and Development Forum.(KIR&DF), Kashmir Joint Co-ordination Committee of Chemists & Druggists, All Kashmir Transport Welfare Association, Jammu & Kashmir Fruit & Vegetable Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), Kashmir House Boat Owners Association (HBOA), Beopar Mandal (Maharaj Gunj), J&K Private School Coordination Committee, Shopian Fruit Mandi Association, Artisans Rehabilitation Forum, Kashmir Economic Form, Shehri-Khass Traders Coordination Committee, Jammu & Kashmir Hotels & Restaurant Association (JKHARA), Tourist Taxi Stand Federation, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA), Pilgrim and Leisure Tour Operators Forum(PILTOF), Tourist Trade Interest Guild.(TTIG), Urban Travel Agents Association.(UTAA), Kashmir Association of Retailers(KAR), Restaurant and Café Association of Kashmir (RAK), Association of Kashmir Tour Operators (AKTO), Kashmir Carpet Association. Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation (KYEF) and Kashmir Artists Welfare Foundation (KAWF) addressed the joint presser today at SKICC here.
Sheikh Ashiq said that the traders who have suffered in past several decades in Kashmir demand some serious initiatives for the revival of their businesses.
He said that they are holding the joint presser today to raise voice for the business fraternity across the Valley who have suffered huge losses due to the one after another blow to them.
“Particularly our businesses are suffering from last ten months and we continuously under lockdown. Though, we have met the Union Home Minister and Union Finance minister and MoS PMO regarding the losses faced by the traders. We have brought into their notice about the challenges being faced by the business community in Kashmir. We were expecting good results from those meetings but the COIVD situation washed it all.," he said.
Ashiq said that Covid19 has hit the already ailing economy of Kashmir very hard.
“As the government has announced the phase one of unlock, the business fraternity here is facing yet another challenge i.e. lack of cash flow,” he said," such a situation is the outcome of the lockdown from last ten months"
He added that as the unlock 1 has been declared, they have got disappointing feedback from the tourism sector, who are expecting no tourist flow in the Valley this year (2020) and are also apprehensive about the footfall for next year also.
Regarding th horticulture sector, he said this sector has also suffered huge losses. “Although the sector managed to transport the stuff in the month of August-September last year, but now, they too are struggling. Handicraft industry is also on decline up to 50-60 per cent from past several years,” he said.
About transport sector, Ashiq said that they are on the mercy of God as only Allah knows how they are feeding their families because they have not earned even single penny post August 5 decision. Besides, the general traders including shopkeepers are also worried about their future.
Ashiq further stated that the students have got badly affected in Jammu and Kashmir due to lack of 4g internet services.
" This is the only place across the country where students are being deprived of the 4g internet services, which is important at present to get the education. The restoration of 4G internet services seems a far off dream. Our students are suffering. The nation can’t go forward without education, which has got badly affected in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He asked the people at helm to take comprehensive measures for revival of Kashmir’s business and expressed concern over the alarming increase in the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir.
Iqbal Ahmad, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Vice-Chairman said that the Valley has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown in over two decades. “Whenever the valley witnessed lockdown, the business fraternity got badly affected. Since 1999, Kashmir has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown. Despite witnessing such a situation, none from the traders here become Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi. The Kashmiri’s trader who has borrowed money from the banks here is repaying the amount in instalments and on apt time,” he said, adding that “We do deserve the package.”
“We have approached the state governments in past, they heard us; many packages were given in the past. I will not deny that but when Rs 8000 Crore were announced for Jammu and Kashmir after floods, a meagre amount was given to the business community here,” he said. (KNS)