Tag: plight

Recognize Plight Of MSMEs To Take Recourse: FCIK To Government

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SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has called on the government to recognize the dire situation faced by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Kashmir region and to take immediate action to fulfill its commitments to this vital sector. The FCIK, which represents the organized industrial estates of the Kashmir valley, held a meeting with the Advisory Council to address the ongoing crisis in the MSME sector.
During the meeting, the Presidents of various industrial estates criticized the government’s response to the challenges facing the industrial sector, particularly the MSMEs, in the wake of long spells of forced business interruptions over the past three decades, particularly after 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2019-21. They accused the government of being blind and unconcerned about the crises, and warned that it was worrying to believe that the government had no clear and accurate idea of the state of MSMEs in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Kashmir valley, where the failure of the government to intervene has resulted in the closure of a substantial number of units.
The participants in the meeting also blamed the industries department for exacerbating the crises faced by MSMEs by adopting a dictatorial approach and issuing unilateral orders. They observed that the lack of cohesion between the various wings of the department had affected the working of MSMEs, and criticized the appointment of inexperienced officials. The members regretted that most of the District Industries Centers (DICs) in the valley were manned by temporary arrangements without full-fledged General Managers.
The FCIK members refuted the claims of industrial growth made by the government, arguing that the government’s data did not reflect the ground realities faced by MSMEs, which have been left to fend for themselves with continued onslaughts by different departments and institutions. They also criticized the government’s unilateral changes to industrial policies without consulting stakeholders, citing the example of the land allotment policy.
The members also lambasted J&K Bank for harassing MSME defaulters and tarnishing the image and credibility of entrepreneurs, particularly in light of the challenges faced by MSMEs during the 2500 days of business interruptions. The bank did not waive interest against the MSMEs even for a day, despite the fact that during these shutdowns, the bank did not provide any services to its customers. The FCIK members regretted that the government was watching the humiliation of entrepreneurs as a mute spectator.
The FCIK authorities assured the Presidents of organized sector to take up their grievances with relevant quarters for redressal. They also agreed to make all relevant issues public in a series of press releases. The meeting of the Presidents of organized sector would be held periodically but more frequently to take stock of the situation.
The FCIK’s call to recognize the plight of MSMEs in the Kashmir region highlights the need for the government to take immediate action to fulfil its commitments to this vital sector. The MSMEs are a significant source of employment and economic growth, and it is imperative that the government provides them with the necessary support and assistance to help them weather the ongoing crises. The FCIK’s efforts to address the issues facing the MSMEs are commendable, and it is hoped that the government will take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by the FCIK and other stakeholders.

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#Recognize #Plight #MSMEs #Recourse #FCIK #Government
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 16, 2023
Telangana: Uttam slams BRS & BJP govts for ‘neglecting’ farmers’ plight

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Hyderabad: Nalgonda MP and senior Congress leader N Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed strong concerns about the ‘unfulfilled’ promises made by the BRS government and the BJP-led Central government towards Telangana’s farmers.
He was speaking to media persons after inaugurating the Paddy Procurement Centre of Singaram Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society in the Huzurnagar constituency on Wednesday.
Uttam Kumar Reddy took both governments to task for failing to deliver on assurances such as a Rs 1 lakh loan waiver and a crop insurance scheme for Telangana farmers. He voiced his disappointment over the unpaid Rythu Bandhu dues for farmers with holdings above 10 acres and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s (KCR) ‘forgotten promise’ of free fertilisers.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2016 promise to double farmers’ income by 2022 has fallen significantly short of expectations. Not only has the income failed to double, but when taking inflation into account, farmers’ income has actually decreased,” he said.
The Congress MP alleged that the Modi government has further burdened farmers by imposing GST on agricultural equipment and input materials. Additionally, despite falling international crude prices, the price of diesel has increased by over 60%, adding to farmers’ woes, he said.
“Initially, the goal was to increase farmers’ household incomes from an average of Rs 8,050 per month in 2015-16 to Rs 21,146 by 2022. Unfortunately, the country is far from reaching this target, and many farmers claim that farming has become unprofitable in the current situation,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy argued that the BRS government’s inability to waive off crop loans up to Rs. 1 lakh has left most farmers unable to secure fresh loans from banks. He pointed out that, despite knowing from 2014-2018 that crop loan waiver schemes do not benefit farmers if divided into different phases, the BRS government repeated the act, splitting it into six to eight phases. So far, Reddy said, crop loans up to Rs. 35,000 have been waived.
“At this pace, it would take the BRS government another five years to completely waive off the remaining loans,” he added.

The MP added that more than 8,000 farmers have committed suicide since 2014, with fewer than 80 receiving compensation under GO 421. Reddy dismissed the Rythu Bandhu scheme as ‘mere hype’, asserting that the Rs. 5,000 per acre support provided does not genuinely aid farmers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy lambasted both the BRS government in Telangana and the BJP government at the Centre for ‘neglecting’ over one lakh farmers affected by recent unseasonal rains.
“While chief minister KCR announced a compensation of Rs. 10,000 per acre, he contested that the relief package lacked a scientific basis, as it was declared without official teams surveying the damaged areas and providing a final report on crop losses,” he said.
He emphasized that compensation should account for cultivation costs, yield per acre, and income for different crops, such as paddy, maize, and mango. “It has been more than three weeks since rains and floods damaged crops spread over lakhs of acres of land. Where is the report about the enumeration of losses?” he asked.
The MP accused KCR of using the compensation to mask the absence of a crop insurance scheme in Telangana, which would have offered affected farmers a more substantial relief package. He divulged that a majority of affected farmers are still awaiting their Rs 10,000 compensation. He also claimed that the BRS government has not requested compensation from the Centre for the thousands of crores in crop losses suffered by farmers over the past nine years.
Uttam challenged the chief minister to disclose the reports of crop losses submitted to the Centre in the last nine years.
Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that both BRS and BJP leaders are engaging in the game of allegations and counter-allegations only to keep the people’s attention ‘diverted from their failures’. However, he said that the Congress party would continue to raise the voice of common people under all circumstances.
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#Telangana #Uttam #slams #BRS #BJP #govts #neglecting #farmers #plight
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 12, 2023
Padma awardee puppeteer says will try to draw attention of Prez to plight of artistes

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Bhubaneswar: Eminent puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr, elated over his selection for the Padma Shri award, on Thursday said he will try to draw the attention of President Droupadi Murmu to the plight of the artistes in the villages.
The 85-year-old artiste was among the four persons from the state who were selected for the coveted award, the three others being noted litterateur Antaryami Mishra, Sambalpuri folk singer Krishna Patel and conservationist Priyabrat Sahu.
Kuanr recalled how he had urged the then President APJ Abdul Kalam for help to keep the art form alive, during a meeting while receiving an award.
He said he has sold his wife’s ornaments for the art form.
Kuanr, who hails from a family of traditional puppeteers, said he was initiated into the art form of Kandhei Nach’ (doll dance) by his father Baishnab Charan Kuanr.
Among other Padma awardees, Patel has lent her voice to renowned Sambalpuri folk song Rangabati Rangabati’ along with Jitendra Haripal, who has already received the Padma award for the song.
A popular name in western Odisha, Patel has sung over 500 songs. She was less than 21 years of age when she sang the Rangabati Rangabati’ song.
Eminent Odia litterateur Antaryami Mishra, who has received the award for his contribution to research in Odia language, grammar, culture and history for the last 50 years, has so far authored around 30 books.

Another Padma awardee from the state, Ayurveda practitioner Patayat Sahu, has grown more than 3,000 medicinal plants in his Nandol village in Kalahandi district without the help of fertilisers, chemicals or pesticides.
Sahu said he learnt traditional healing practices from his grandfather, who was a vaidya’ (traditional healer) and that he does not charge anything from his patients.
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#Padma #awardee #puppeteer #draw #attention #Prez #plight #artistes
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 26, 2023