Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 22: Reiterating his resolve to lead the traders and industrialists of Jammu from the front, a leading city businessman and sitting president of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Y V Sharma, who is contesting again for the post of president in the elections to be held on April 28, has expressed that restoration of incentives to the industry in J&K, welfare of the trading community and waging a fight for providing them due respect and dignity in the bureaucratic set up and hassle free movement of goods at Lakhanpur will be his priorities.
A highly experienced executive committee member of the Jammu Chamber, Mr Sharma, who has already served as CCI president for two terms from 1992 to 94 and then from 2010-2012 and as secretary general from 1985-88, said that trader is the partner with Government in the nation building as he generates huge wealth in the form of tax for country’s development and progress. Therefore, he deserves due respect and dignity in the society and especially in the eyes of “Babu” , as many of them are still in the old `colonial rule’ habit of unfair treatment with them. He claimed that his sincere efforts would be continued to restore dignity, honour to the business community and ensuring fair treatment to them. Highlighting some achievements during his tenure, Mr Sharma said that issue of harassment of traders at Lakhanpur entry point by Sales Tax/ Commercial Tax ‘Babus’ was strongly projected and a lot of relief was witnessed during past some time. But there was still much more to be done in this regard. Many interactions were held with the Chief Commissioner IT and other officials of the department to plead with them for making department business- friendly. The Chamber body in the recent past also took principled stand that frequent bandhs and strikes hold the civil society to ransom and should be resorted to only as last resort.
Mr Sharma further said that his efforts to restore industrial incentives extended to J&K would be continued. The matter was strongly taken up with the Chief Minister during two meetings in the recent past. The Chief Minister has assured the CCI to take up the issue with the Union Finance Minister and the Prime Minister as well. Not only this, the capital investment subsidy which is also going to be lapsed in June this year will also be the priority, he maintained.
Responding to another question, he said to make Ware House and Nehru Market better equipped with infrastructure and the creation of more Ware Houses, Industrial Estates, Business Centres, build infrastructure for tourism, better electricity, ensuring PCB as industry friendly, etc would also be in his priority works if he is elected as CCI president again.
Referring to his vision and plan to provide Jammu businessmen a place for recreation and relax after day’s hectic and tiresome work in the form of a Businessmen Club, Mr Sharma said that in this regard a Chamber delegation had met the Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand who is in charge Housing and Urban Development department to provide at least 25 kanals of land to the Jammu Chamber. The DyCM has sent a proposal to the JDA to examine and identify a suitable place for it. This process would be taken up vigorously.
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