Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 5: The houseboat owners and Shikarawalas are annoyed with the Government’s financial assistance of Rs 1000 a month amid Coronavirus pandemic and have termed it ‘a big joke’.
Last month the Government announced that it would provide a relief of Rs 1000 per month to construction workers, shikarawalas, tourist guides, pony wallas, flower glowers and street vendors for a period of three months. The amount would be disbursed by the Tourism Department, Housing and Urban Development, Labour Department and Floriculture Department.
The houseboat owners and Shikara wallas, however, are dejected with the amount of the relief which, they said, is insufficient to cater to their daily needs. “It is an insult to us. What can we get with Rs 1000? I would usually earn Rs 1000 -1500 per day,” Ali Mohammad, a Shikra owner said.
He added that the government has taken the right decision by imposing the lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic, but it should also think about the low-income groups. “We are dependent on tourists and have no other source of income. We are finding it hard to feed our families,” he said.
For the last one and a half months, Shikarawallas and many other low-income groups have been doing no work due to lockdown. Their average income varies from Rs 1000- 1500 a day, depending upon the flow of work. “During this time the houseboats used to be full of tourists here. No one is here today. It is unfortunate that the government is providing us Rs 1000. It takes around Rs 2-3 lakhs to meet the expenses of the houseboat in one year,” Bashir Ahmad, a house boat owner said.
He said that houseboat owners among others involved in the tourism sector have been suffering losses for the last three years and the imposition of the frequent lockdown by the government is the main reason. “Last year the government promised us that they will provide us full compensation. The tourism industry has been in ruins after the Pulwama attack. This lockdown has put the final nail in the coffin of the tourism industry in Kashmir,” he said.
Abdul Rashid, another Shikarawalla said that they could not even buy a packet of milk daily with this compensation. “Rs 1000 per day means Rs 30 per day. A beggar earns more money than that,” he said, adding if the government wants to help it should provide at least Rs 5000-8000 per month.
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