Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: A delegation of Association of Small & Tiny Industries (ASTI), Jammu Province called on Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo and projected the burning issues of the Tiny Industry in the region.
Led by its president, Harbinder Singh and accompanied by vice president, Sanjay Chopra and general secretary Ajay Tagotra, the members during meeting submitted a memorandum with charter of demands and discussed their issues.
ASTI members strongly demanded a separate Industrial Policy for the Micro Industry in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and government support for the revival of sick units. They suggested that a Government level committee be constituted for the revival of sick tiny units in the region.
Referring to the woes of the owners of the sick units, they pointed out that many of them had taken loans from the banks and other financial institutions and now they are unable to pay back the installments. The Government must come forward for the upliftment of the sick units and render them some financial assistance.
They pointed out that Government is taking impressive steps for encouraging educated youth and promoting entrepreneurship through `Startup India’…, `Ease of doing Business’ initiatives and providing loans on subsidy through KVIB, KVIC, DIC under PMEGP but banks being the important and internal part of the policy, are not playing their role properly.
Harbinder Singh said Covid had hit the economy very badly and many Micro units could not survive. It forced temporary suspension of operation of many units. Now, the banks are harassing these unit holders. Banks are going to declare these units as NPA and even initiating auction proceedings, he maintained.
ASTI delegation sought intervention of the Chief Secretary JKUT in this regard.