Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today interacted with a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at the Civil Secretariat, where broad issues related to various fields were discussed.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dullu, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Youth and Sarmad Sarmad Number, Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yakub and other officials concerned.
The delegation led by KCCI President Javed Ahmed Tenga highlighted the concerns in industries including trade, travel and tourism, agriculture, horticulture, education, health, hospitality, urban development and transport sectors.
The Chief Minister assured the delegation of full government support and expressed solidarity with the business community of Jammu and Kashmir during these challenging times. He said, “Whatever issues you have raised here, we are investigating them with great seriousness. We will all expand the possible help. If necessary, we will contact the Government of India to secure the necessary help,” he said.
CM Abdullah emphasized that the economic recession currently facing this region is not recent but in the heritage of previous years.
He outlined the need for a realistic and targeted relief package, designed in consultation with stakeholders of the business community.
He said, “We are seeking support in the light of unprecedented circumstances that are in front of us. A joint proposal for a package will be prepared, but should be different from regular demands to focus and ensure certain attention,” he said.
The Chief Minister especially addressed the concerns suggested by the KCCI, which demanded loan repayment, interest relief, account safety from NPA, emergency credit lines, soft loans for transporters, tourism promotion, issue of cases in allocation of land to industrial units, facilities for export of goods through several airlines, downtown riders through many airlines. The CM assured the delegation that these cases would be addressed and more especially the difficulties faced by businesses would be taken with the Union Finance Ministry and other concerned officials.
Recognizing the serious impact of the recession in tourism, CM Omar Abdullah assured that there is a need to review sanctions on tourists to visit 48 destinations. He also called for such measures that promote local tourism and encourage schools and colleges to plan to travel within Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that he has requested the Prime Minister and the Department of Parliamentary Affairs to hold meetings of the Parliament Consultant Committee in Kashmir with the aim of promoting faith and visibility.
Apart from this, he said that he had invited the participants at the Niti Aig Sammelan to help in order to organize PSU conferences, encouragement tourism and national level programs in Kashmir. The CM announced participation in the upcoming Travel and Tourism Fairs (TTF) in Kolkata and Ahmedabad to reinforce the interest of tourists.
To address long -running structural issues such as lease policy, power waiver in commercial fields, difficulties in achieving NOC, business compliance and environmental approval, the Chief Minister said that these concerns, some dating have been actively reviewed for many years.
CM Abdullah stressed that the government’s priority will be small stakeholders related to tourism who had just started in tourism and transport sectors and are the weakest:
“I am deeply concerned about a sumo driver who upgraded into an Innova, homestay owner, who built a 15 -room hotel, or local seller, whose daily income fed his family. These are the people that we should stand yet.”
He highlighted the importance of justified relief to ensure that the grassroots level entrepreneurs, self-employed persons and owners of small business have not been sidelined compared to large and established players.
Discussing agriculture and logistics, CM Abdullah shared update on ongoing efforts with the Ministry of Railways to improve the cargo movement, especially for agriculture and horticulture produce. He expressed optimism that freight logistics would soon be more streamlined, which would support producers in the valley.
Confirming his commitment, the Chief Minister said that his government would prepare a well -structured, implementable plan in consultation with all stakeholders. “We will unite our case before the Government of India. When I spoke to him, the Union Finance Minister was receptive, and I expect positive response.”
The Chief Minister assured the trade community to conclude that the administration is committed to help them overcome the current difficulties and plans for a permanent, flexible future.
Closing, the CM called all the tourism -related people to adopt moral practices and to make honesty with tourists to ensure fair trade and tourists would like to return to Jammu and Kashmir again and again.
He warned against the unfair trade practices being employed by some elements that would bring a bad name for Kashmir tourism and products.
He said that the government will also step to curb examples of fake goods misunderstandings, overcharging and sales.
