By: Tasaduq Hussain
Jammu, Nov 29, TEN Network | Post the abrogation of article 370 a wide spread uncertainty has rose among the business community since they’re engulfed by the uncertainty which affected their business to a greater extend thus causing huge loss to all the sectors involved in activities for years including new entrepreneurs who beating all the odds had came up with confidence to settle but the recent unrest has subjected them to hardships with no sign of relief from authorities as of now.
Rakesh Gupta Chairperson Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that, in recent months normal life remained affected but with the same business world has suffered heavy loss which can’t be calculated in numbers only since the loss is beyond expectations and limit especially in Kashmir valley.
According to him, the economy of Jammu and Kashmir has always been intra-dependent, exportation from Jammu is very low as compared to importation considering that businesses in this division has suffered over 50% loss, market went as down that we are still to recover from the major loss which is a grave concern and has to be tackled by government at the earnest.
Whenever Civil Secretariat moves to Jammu during winters a huge population of Kashmiris also shift here which expands our market in Jammu and economy here in Jammu division gets a major boost with that, we have cautioned government about the Darbar Move and told them that this practice shouldn’t stop in future. Centre government has a role to play when it comes to business, they need to come up with some immediate steps and grasp the factual losses from gross root level and provide compensation which is our right, Rakesh said.
He said that, Internet gag has affected the business to a greater extend, after governments announcement of digital India almost all the sectors rely on internet. Artisans in Kashmir valley are worsen affected due to internet gag, they used to sell their products online even some can be on verge of starvation due to unending internet shutdown, there is no sector that hasn’t suffered loss in recent past months post abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370).
According to him, Horticulture sector has erupted as very problematic for all those involved, we have had close contact with government regarding the same, Apple growers in valley (Kashmir) are worst victims since there were none to give them the desirable rates for their products, we believe that due to local threats growers couldn’t provide sufficient amount of material, it was a spree of losses for business world especially those in Jammu and Kashmir, still the unrest continues in Kashmir which continues to hamper their normal activities thus mounting to the amount of loss.
He lashed out at the government for not restoring internet services in Jammu, he said that situation is normal in Jammu region still the authorities are taking time to restore internet services, we haven’t demanded officially considering the national security aspect but everything has a limit, security agencies should give it a serious look because ‘our union territory and country isn’t run by security concern only’ we have huge economic concerns as well, unemployment is unbeaten, I’m sure about the fact that those individuals who are fresh entrepreneurs are on verge of losing their business assets which is a grave issue actually.
Ration and medical supply was uninterrupted and they haven’t suffered much loss because the consumption was done on daily bases, Building material sector is affected to greater extend since the labor left the valley too early many projects are still pending in valley.
During the tenure of former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have hiked the road tax taking it to 9% in transition period which has hit the sector almost then thousand of youth across J-k are serving in the sector who are on verge of losing their jobs, overall all the sectors are running into heavy loss.
He said that, it’s too early to say that post the abrogation of Article 370 more investors will invest in Jammu and Kashmir even prior Aug 05 whenever centre would announce some package investors used to come and invest, but as per my perspective no one will invest here if packages are announced without incentives no one will invest because it’s not easy to run any unit of industry across J&K since we’re land locked and belong to remotest corner of country, we buy raw martial from outside and finalize it here, we export more rather than import, in race of setting up new industrial units govt shouldn’t overturn the existing ones they should be given priority, a lot of steps are expected.
Rakesh suggested government to form a high level committee to access the factual loss especially of those who are into running business, to me giving a number for loss will be wrong since there are many running business in person on individual level have suffered heavy loss they’re also to be considered, Automobile sector in Kashmir has suffered heavy loss, their wages and rental is running into loss, authorities should get in touch with the stake holders both based in Jammu and Kashmir (JCCI & KCCI), advertisements should be issued so that all on their individual level will get file it before government so that the factual losses due to recent unrest are collected and early action is initiated.
With improvement in situation and things limping to normalcy government should restore internet services at the earnest because it’s not accessed by Terrorists alone for anti national activities but our youth access it for their education purpose, business is fully dependent on internet services these days, if authorities are concerned about the people of Jammu and Kashmir they should relook into such aspects. He believes that in absence of internet business loss has mounted and we cooperated when it comes to security scenario because we don’t want any untoward to surface due to internet but overall a long time has already gone past but we have firm faith in our security agencies who are competent to tackle any situation, we have appealed Lt Governor for restoration of internet so that no more loss is faced in days to come.
As per Rakesh, it’s for the first time since the mobile internet and broadband services were started in Jammu and Kashmir some ago internet services remained off in jammu division.
We’re hopeful that Lt Governor will consider our side as well, we have told him about our concerns in our maiden meet with him may be in day to come govt will initiate some positive steps so that a commoner is facilitated including business community, Rakesh said.
