Srinagar, 26-Jan; The trade bodies in Kashmir here today and asked Centre for a special financial package to revive business and economy in the Union Territory, saying the industry and traders in the region have suffered since August 2019 and now the Covid lockdown has added to their woes.While talking to representatives of Kashmir traders & manufacturing federation(r) said that the traders who have suffered immensely in the past several decades in Kashmir demand measures for the revival of their businesses.“The only aim to talk to media is to raise our voice for the business fraternity across the Valley which has suffered huge losses due to the situation that gripped the Valley from time to time,” they said. “In the past two decades, Kashmir alone has witnessed 3000 days of shutdown resulting in the huge looses to the business fraternity,”They added that business in Kashmir has received another major jolt in the form of weekend Lockdowns in Jammu and Kashmir.The Valley has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown in over two decades. “Whenever the valley witnessed lockdown, the business fraternity got badly affected. Since 1999, Kashmir has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown. Despite witnessing such a situation, none of the traders here become Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi. The Kashmiri’s trader who has borrowed money from the banks here is repaying the amount in installments and on time,” they said, adding that “We do deserve the package.”While welcoming the special one-time settlement scheme announced by Jammu and Kashmir Bank for its NPA (non-performing asset) account holders saying it will ease the difficulties of the stressed business units.”We demand inclusion of small traders who have taken less than Rs 20 lakh loan into the scheme. Traders of Srinagar especially small scale traders suffered financial losses from the past three years due to various reasons”, they demanded.They further urged the administration to announce power amnesty scheme to their establishments.They said interest, penalty and surcharge on power dues against them should also be waived.Spokesperson KTMF(r), Hilal Mandoo, President Bashir Rather and senior members Nisar shahdar and Altaf Dar(Rajbagh) were part of delegation. (CNS)
