Loan waiver for small borrowers upto limit of Rs 5 lakh, compensation for Information Technology sector, support to local industry and tourism sector were among several demands put forth by Kashmir Inc during their meeting with Union Ministers late Tuesday.
A delegation of Kashmir Inc- which is representing over 30business and trade associations of Kashmir along with along with senior BJPleader, Member Central Waqf Council & Chairperson of Waqf DevelopmentCommittee of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi met a group ofministers including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister NirmalaSitaraman and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh inNew Delhi.
According to a memorandum submitted by Kashmir Inc beforeCentral government for revival of Kashmir’s economy, the business community hassought full waiver of loans upto Rs 5 lakh of small borrowers.
Besides, they have sought modifications in the RBIguidelines which were recently issued for rehabilitation of bank accounts.
Kashmir Inc has demand 30 percent capital infusion coupledwith restructuring of the accounts for a period of 07-10 years. Besides framingof one time settlement policy in view of the present situation of the business.
For hospitality sector, GST holiday has been sought for twoyears, apart for other demands.
The Kashmir Inc has sought revival of handicraft sectorthrough active intervention of the government. Industrial sector has demandedpurchase of locally manufactured products mandatorily for the UTgovernment.
Compensation for IT sector which had shift their bases fromKashmir during internet shutdown. Contractor’s liability should be cleared, thememorandum of demands read.
According to official statement, the delegation had a veryextensive discussion with the high power ministerial group regarding therevival of business sector in J&K especially in valley of Kashmir whichsuffered a lot due to the security situation in Kashmir after the abrogation ofArticle 370.
The delegation presented the factual position of differentbusiness sectors including trade, transport, handicrafts, agriculture,horticulture, industries, commerce & tourism etc. Many concrete suggestionsfor revival of these sectors in losses were presented in a seven pagememorandum.
According press statement, delegation included Shiekh AashiqAhmad, Iqbal Tramboo, Ashraf Mir, Adbul Wahid Malik, Muzamil Bachcha, FayazAzad, Shahid Kaamili, Farhan Kitab, Parvez Ahmad Bhat, Showkat Chaudhary, MajidWafai, Abdul Hamid Wangnoo, Manzoor Pakhtoon, Nasir Shah, Balvinder SinghRaina, Sheikh Feroz Ahmad and Arshid Rasool were part of the delegation.
The statement said that Amit Shah assured the delegationthat concrete steps will be taken for the revival of the business sector inJ&K. He also emphasized that Central Government is committed to restoreStatehood to J&K soon. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said that acomprehensive plan of action will be taken to address to the demands of thebusiness fraternity of the UT.
MoS in PMs Office Dr Jitendra Singh said that thediscussions have paved ways to address to the genuine demands of the businesssectors of J&K. Thanking the group of Ministers for their patient andcompassionate hearing and understanding the issues faced by the businesssectors in Kashmir, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi expressed her hope that soon we willsee a concrete and comprehensive rehabilitation policy for revival of J&Kcommerce from the central government which is committed to usher a new era ofpeace and progress in the troubled valley.