Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 27: Federation of Industries Jammu (FoIJ) has appealed the Lt Governor, G C Murmu to provide financial relief to the industrial sector which is facing lot of hardships in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a meetin g of the FoIJ held under the chairmanship of Lalit Mahajan in presence of Rattan Dogra, Jitender Aul, Deepak Dhawan-all Co-Chairmen; Lavinder Singh Puri, secretary general; Viraaj Malhotra, convener and other Executive Committee members of the Federation of Industries Jammu, the members discussed the plight of the Micro and Small Scale Sector of the J&K UT suffering since August 5, 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 and COVID-19 situation since March 24, 2020.
While appreciating the relief provided by the Govt in respect of extension of Amnesty Scheme for settlement of unsolved issues in the old Tax Regime, Power Amnesty and extension of time for the filing of GST refund claims etc, the members present in the meeting shown their resentment that, in spite of assurances given by the Govt for providing the financial relief to the Industrial sector of J&K who is suffering since August 2019 after the Abrogation of Article 370 and now from March 25, 2020 due to COVID-19 situation, the much awaited financial relief is still awaited in respect of reimbursement of salary/ wages, waive off the power supply bills, Bank Interest Subvention Scheme in respect of Working Capital/ Term Loan for MSME Sector to provide the Financial support to MSME Sector of the J&K UT.
They said the Micro & Small Sector units of the Jammu & Kashmir are suffering very badly after the adoption of GST by J&K Govt and abrogation of Article 370 since August 5, 2019 and now the COVID-19 resulted uncertainty in the mind of units holders.
It was also resolved in the meeting that thousands of Micro and Small Scale Units are on the verge of clouser as they are not able to participate in the Govt Tenders due to Finance Department directives for the purchases through GeM portal in spite of the facts that the Industrial Policy 2016 still in existence which provide 20% price/purchase preference to local SSI units over and above the landed cost of the offer received from outside the State.
They pleaded the Lt Governor to intervene in to the matter for the grant of financial relief to the MSME Sector and ensure reimbursement of wages/salary for the Lockdown period, waive off Bank Interest on term/working capital loans upto March 31, 2021, waive off Power supply bills for the Lockdown period and deferm purchases through GeM Portal till March 31, 2022.
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