J&K Govt. to support suffering business sector, in addition to GoI Package: LG
SRINAGAR, June 9: “Jammu and Kashmir government will come forward to support suffering business sector in the union territory besides implementing the government of India’s special package in letter and spirit,” this was assured by the Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu to Ghulam Hassan Mir, senior leader of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) who called on the former at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu.
In a statement issued here, a spokesman of JKAP said the former minister apprised the Lieutenant Governor about a wide range of issues of public importance including revival of Industries, Tourism, Trade, Horticulture and Agriculture in J&K that have been the worst sectors since August 2019.
The JKAP leader said the COVID-19 lockdown has surely impacted almost all economic sectors across the country, however, in Jammu and Kashmir these restrictions have exponentially incremented to the losses of industrialists, business, traders, transporters and shopkeepers who were already hit by a similar shutdown after August last year.
He briefed Sh. Murmu about pending wages and demand for regularization of casual labourers, daily rated and ITI workers, revocation of SRO-202, extension of benefits to the MSMEs announced by Government of India, functioning of J&K Bank etc. He also informed the LG about a growing gap between the people and the administration at grass root level.
Mir urged the Lt Governor to order immediate disbursement of pending dues to MSME holders who have completed their allotted works in record time but are craving for clearance of their bills in various government departments especially PDD.
Mir briefed the Lt Governor that out of allocated 300,000 Crores for MSME unit holders across the country, almost all the banks in the country disbursed 19000 crores in just one day. “Whereas in J&K only 180 Crores have been claimed on account of MSME claims that too by SBI. The J&K Bank should be asked to put the claims of MSME unit holders on its portal and claim the requisite funding or otherwise the earmarked funds will get exhausted and the unit holders will be left high and dry. In addition to it, the J&K government should also extend COVID grant benefit of additional 20% of working capital to standard accounts under SME 2,” the JKAP leader pleaded before the Lt Governor.
The JKAP leader informed the Lt Governor dues to MSME unit holders of Jammu and Srinagar amounting to around Rs. 100 Crores under centre’s Saubhagya Scheme implemented by Power Development Department are yet to be disbursed.
“Similarly, the other MSME unit holders have around Rs 250 Crores pending with various government departments, PSU’s, especially SICOP. Though the SICOP has reportedly received the payment but is unnecessarily delaying its disbursement to the concerned unit holders who have completed their work long ago,” Mir added.
Similarly, he said the artisans and weavers associated directly or indirectly with the handicrafts and handloom sectors in Kashmir are suffering immensely and the prevailing pandemic has aggravated their woes. Mir demanded a special financial assistance for the families of artisans and weavers especially living in downtown areas of Srinagar city.
During the meeting the Lt Governor observed that the present government is laying special emphasis for the redressal of public issues to ensure good governance and accountability at all levels.
He assured the JKAP leader that all the issues projected by him would be reviewed by him for their early redressal and urged him to continue working towards promoting public welfare.
