Srinagar, Sept 8:(KNS) Peoples Conference (JKPC) Senior Leader & former Legislator Mohammad Khurshid Alam has demanded a waiver of artisan loans in Kashmir
Seeking intervention from the party during a detailed meeting with Party President Sajad Gani Lone and General Secretary Moulvi Imran Reza Ansari, Alam said that artisans are the backbone of trade of the Valley, particularly in Srinagar and they depend on this trade for their livelihood. He said that there is no ambiguity that if the economic condition of these artisans is to be improved then it can be done only by increasing their income. Despite various initiatives taken their condition has still deteriorated due to the unprecedented situation prevalent in the valley.
Urging the leadership to take up the matter with the government for waiving off artisan loans Alam said that it is our obligation to ensure the welfare of these artisans. He said that the file regarding waiver of the artisan loans is already pending with the government for appropriate decisions.
Allam further added that the loans granted by the government through women’s development corporations to different artisans for small ventures in 2010-2012 should be waived off because the artisans are not in a position to repay the same.
“First it was the devastating floods in 2014, then the dismal law and order situation in 2016 and now these artisans are facing the worst times since August 2019 coupled with the prevailing COVID pandemic,” he added.
He said that most of the artisan accounts have turned into non-performing assets as these artisans have faced unprecedented times since 2014. Their businesses continue to incur heavy losses due to these hard times, like the 2014 floods, 2016 uprising and even prevailing covid 19 situations made these artisans to reel under continued crises leaving their families in distress and without any livelihood.
Khurshid Alam urged the leadership to take up the matter with the government to mitigate the sufferings of these artisans by waiving off loans of these aggrieved artisans.(KNS)