Suhail Bhat
Halmulla (Pulwama), Sept 3: Scores of bat sellers on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway from Awantipora to Anantnag are facing tough time as sales of their products have drastically dropped after militant attack on bus of Amarnath pilgrims in July this year.
The bat sellers said nearly two months have passed since the attack took place but the tourists are still scared to stop their vehicles in the area. They said although police had issued advisory regarding the stoppage of vehicles only for the period of Amarnath Yatra, it seems the tourists are still reluctant to stop their vehicles, thus forcing many outlets out of business altogether.
Not only are the sports shops deserted but behind the façade of shop windows the drying planks of stacked willow and the bat making factories are also biting the dust. “I have not seen a single customer for last 15 days. We used to sell 60 bats per day during 2015 and nearly 30 bats during 2016. The biggest blow to our business was the yatra attack and the advisory police issued afterward wherein pilgrims were advised not to stop in our area,” said Muhammad Amin, who owns Astro Sports.
Rough estimates suggested that bat industry employs an estimated 10,000 Kashmiris and adds an estimated 500,000 bats to the national and international markets each year. With an annual turnover of more than Rs 10 crore, there are about 250 registered small and big manufacturing units operational in Kashmir, which provide direct and indirect employment to nearly 15,000 people whose lives have been hit by the decline in sales.
Mohammad Ramzan, a bat factory owner and seller said the labourers and the artisans who were involved in bat making have switched their jobs. “Nearly 15 people were working with me and all have switched their jobs. Majority of them are into sand digging now. How can we give livelihood to other people when the future of our families seems bleak?” Mohammad Ramzan, owner of Goodwill and sports industries, said.
The bat sellers also blamed newly introduced Goods and Services Tax for the decline in the trade. “Our trade was earlier tax-free and its inclusion under the tax was a big blow to the industry. 12% tax is too much for this industry. It has marred the business,” he said.
Another bat seller, Ghulam Mohammad said that there were ups and down in the sales earlier but it has never been this low. “Our business is zero percent. The drastic decline in sales has forced many sellers to shut their shops. This year we have sold nothing,” he said. He, however, blamed authorities for overlooking the plight of people associated with the trade.
“The Gover-nment was never serious about us. Except us, everyone was compensated during the devastating floods of 2014. All we got was hollow promises,” the bat seller added. The bat manufacturers said they have no hope from Government as they have not been paid any relief or compensation for the losses, which they suffered during the 2014 devastating floods and 2016 unrest.
As per the Industries and Commerce Depart-ment, the industry suffered a loss of nearly Rs 2 crores in floods and a detailed report has been sent to the Government for compensation but, so far, not a single penny has been paid. Also, the loss estimated for willow suppliers was nearly Rs one crore, said an official.
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