Salesmen of liquor shops stage protest against new Draft Excise Policy

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Salesmen of various liquor shops of Jammu today staged a protest outside Excise Commissioner’s office demanding reconsideration of Draft Excise Policy 2021-22.
The salesmen said that if the draft policy is effectuated, it will render them jobless. They say that such a step, especially at this point of time when they are coming out of financial distress caused by COVID, will prove to be a serious calamity for them caused by their own Government.
Speaking to media persons, Romesh Verma, a salesman said, “We salesmen, most of whom are graduates, have sacrificed the days of our youth for this trade. We won’t be able to find jobs anywhere else, as there is already a dearth of new jobs in the market. The salesmen who are having financial liabilities on them would be worst affected, as this would put them in a debt trap and deal a severe blow on their livelihoods.”
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He said that auctioning of vends takes away the idea of giving opportunities to unprivileged sections of the society on the basis of their economic conditions. “Implementing the new policy would prove detrimental for people like us who do not have deep pockets and would benefit well-off people only. If the department is trying to imitate other States and UTs by auctioning the liquor vends, it should also study their fault-lines and learn from their mistakes,” said Romesh Verma.
Terming the Draft Excise Policy as ill-advised, another salesman Som Nath said that this will open up vistas of opportunities for outsiders, including the unscrupulous elements to open up their outlets in Jammu and Kashmir and lead to unethical trade practices, adding that the policy will encourage smuggling of illicit liquor in a big way under the garb of making supplies to the outlets.
The protesting salesmen appealed Excise Commissioner not to implement this policy as this can adversely affect the life cycle of the salesmen and people dependent upon them.
Later, a delegation of Salesmen led by Romesh Verma, Som Nath, Khem Raj and Narinder Sharma met the Deputy Excise Commissioner (DEC) Amarjit in his office and apprised him of their demands. The DEC gave them a patient hearing and assured that their matter will be discussed with the higher authorities.

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