Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 30: A delegation of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu Chapter met K K Sharma, Advisor to Lt Governor and projected the issues of the business community and others pertaining to the interest of general public.
The delegation led by its chairman Rakesh Wazir and comprising of Co-Chairman Rahul Sahai, former Chairman Vikrant Kuthiala, former Co-chairman Kuldeep Gupta, Executive Officer Aditya Vaid met Advisor K K Sharma in presence of RK Chhibber Chairman J&K Bank and other officers while Financial Commissioner Finance, Arun Mehta, Commissioner Secr-etary Industries and Commerce, Manoj Kumar Diwedi, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Zubair Ahmed were present through video conferencing.The delegation besides discussing the issues regarding revival & survival of the business sector in the UT of J&K in detail ,submitted a detail memorandum as well.
While speaking on the occasion Wazir put forward the problems being faced by the business community including waiver of interest on loans and increase in moratorium period, waiver of electricity fixed charges,re-imbursement of GST to hotels, completion of projects already sanctioned under Central Road Fund,working capital to service sector,bearing of share of Provident Fund and Employees State Insurance by the Government, providing of financial packages for the losses which have occurred due to this lock down, and clarification with regard to mortgage fees which should be nil or on loan amount and not on the value of mortgaged property etc.
While elaborating he said that Tourism sector is in real distress and all sectors whose working has come to stand still should be given special preference.
He said that Yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi ji should open with pre-covid test without restriction of numbers and further said that when pilgrims with pre-covid test can come within 48 hours,there would hardly be any need of binding of per day allowing of pilgrims for going to Darshans of Maa Vaishnodevi ji because if all pilgrims going to Vaishnodevi ji would be Covid negative there would hardly be any risk of their going and that number should be made un limited and likewise the Pithus and Helpers should be allowed with proper Covid testing for the convenience of the pilgrims.
He said that keeping in view the importance of Katra Vaishnodevi and Jammu 4G internet should be started in Reasi and Jammu districts and if possible all the route of pilgrims right from lakhanpur to Vaishnodevi ji also so that pilgrims coming overhere may not find problem in connectivity.
Sahai projected issues regarding funding for MSME Sectors and suggested that as SIDBI is offering loan to only selected MSME’S at 5% Interest and this offer should be given to all MSMES. He also stated that as moratorium which is ending in August its repayment is not still clear to enterprises and how they are going to pay back should be properly advertised and further said that various emergency loan Schemes which has been announced by the union Finance Minister are not implemented by various banks till now and requested that these schemes should be implemented by all the banks.
Kuthiala suggested for comprehensive measures by the Government to bring reforms in all major economic sectors, besides mitigating the economic stress caused due to COVID-19 pandemic. He said while the intentions of the Government appear to be noble, the measures adopted to ensure payment of wages are not adequate to tackle the problem. The need of the hour is a dedicated framework in the form of monetary subsidies similar to the ones declared by Governments across the globe.
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