Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: All Jammu Civil Society Forum (AJCSF) held core group meeting, which was organised by its Convener and former Minister Gulchain Singh Charak to review ongoing situation in the State.
Convener informed the core group regarding successful tour of the team of the Forum to districts of Poonch and Rajouri where District Committees were constituted and told that the respective District Committees have played a positive role in district Poonch as well as in district Rajouri during recent crisis.
The members in the meeting discussed various issues including adoption of GST Act and its implementation at National Level. On the question of GST Act, the core group unanimously urged the elected leadership of the State to immediately ensure legislative concurrence for extension of GST Act in the State so that State will get its due share for its economic revival. Any opposition to the extension of GST Act in the State, would not be in the interest of the financial health of the State.
The speakers particularly the representatives from industries and trade organizations highlighted the losses suffered by the industries in Jammu for the last over more than two and a half months which runs into crores of rupees.
They demanded a comprehensive package for the State covering Jammu Province as well, so that the losses suffered by industries and tourism sector are properly compensated. Any type of discrimination with Jammu province, in this regard would not be tolerated, they added.
The core group unanimously supported the charter of demands submitted by the representatives of Industries, Hotels and Lodges, Tour and Taxi Operators to the parliamentary group and urged the Central Government to immediately frame a comprehensive policy so as to compensate the huge losses suffered by them. The growing interest of banks in the heavy burden of loan on the loanees of these sectors has adversely affected the businessmen associated with these trades.
The core group also demanded due share of Jammu in employment package so that the growing discontent amongst unemployed educated youth of Jammu province is appropriately addressed.
The Forum noted with concern the lack of development especially in far-flung of areas of Jammu Province where road network is very poor and infrastructure for education and health sector is unsatisfactory. The State and Central Governments must take immediate steps to improve infrastructure in Jammu province particularly in the rural areas, they stated.
The core group also expressed their deep anguish over the loss of lives of soldiers at Uri and condemned Pak sponsored terrorists responsible for such an attack which has seriously threatened the peace in the region. They also demanded the ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the martyrs as has been announced by the other States of the country.
Among those who expressed their views were Abdul Majid, President Muslim Federation Jammu, Yash Paul Gupta, President FRAJ, GA Khawaja, Retd DC, Retd Colonel Karan Singh Jamwal, Neeraj Anand, President CTFJ, HA Siddiqui, Former Additional Advocate General, Retd Brig MS Jamwal and Kuldip Wahi, President Bar, Restaurant and Hotel Association Jammu.
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