Srinagar, Jan 11 (KNS): Terming the Budget 2017-18 presented by Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb A Drabu as a ‘political budget’, the Valley traders on Wednesday said, Finance Minister has ignored the trade community.
The Valley traders told KNS that some of the announcements made by Drabu during presenting the 2017-18 budget are appreciable.
Talking to KNS, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) president, Muhammad Yasin Khan said, “The only thing that is appreciable is interest subvention scheme for the transporters. Else, there is nothing for the trade community.”
Khan said that they put forth their demands before Finance Minister during pre-budget deliberations but unfortunately, not even a single demand has been fulfilled. “It is very unfortunate that the Finance Minister has ignored the trade community at all fronts,” he said, adding that it is disappointing that the tourism sector has also been ignored.
“I believe that the budget presented by Drabu is a political budget as there is nothing for a common man and trade community,” he added.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) president, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, said, “Most of the demands of trade community have been ignored while some of the things in budget 2017-18 presented by the FM Haseeb Drabu are appreciable.”
He said that the announcement regarding the taking-up of major tourist destinations in the State for underground cabling of all electrical network at 33 KV level and LT level is welcoming step besides providing Rs 530 crores to J&K Bank as equity infusion.
“Announcing Rs 2 crore to fur artisans is a also a welcoming step but unfortunately, the main things that trade community for has not entertained by the state Finance Minister,” Wani said, adding that they had urged Drabu to make funds available for state emporium so that they can buy products directly from artisans but the demand was also ignored.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Kashmir Traders Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) president, Basher Ahmad Rather termed the Budget presented by the Finance Minister as ‘old wines in new bottles’ and said that the trade community has been left on god’s mercy.
“Yes, it is true that the Fm announced interest subvention scheme for transporters but that is not new for us as it was already announced by the government in SRO,” he said.
He said that despite being knowledgeable about the loss suffered by the trade community during the uprising in the Valley, the government failed to take appropriate step for the wellbeing of trade community and has left them to lurch at large.
President of Traders Federation Parimpora, Hilal Ahmad Mandoo said, “The pre-budget deliberations of the Finance Minister with the trade community was mere an eye-wash as he failed to fulfil even a single demand of the trade bodies.”
He said, “I believe the pre-budget meeting was only aimed to show people that the government is trade friendly but unfortunately that sans on the ground.”
Mandoo said that they have already rejected the government announced ‘restructuring of the accounts’.
“The Finance Minister has miserably failed to announce anything regarding the trade community. Even the small shop owners and small industrialists have been ignored, which is unfortunate,” he said, while terming the budget 2017-18 as ‘old wine in new bottles’. (KNS)