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| ICC Jammu calls for immediate relief measures amid conflict crisis in J&K | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 16: In light of the ongoing instability and conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, the Executive Council of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Jammu, convened under the chairmanship of Rahul Sahai to discuss pressing concerns affecting industry, trade, and civil society in the region.
The meeting began with a solemn two-minute silence to pay tribute to the brave security personnel, civilians, and others who lost their lives in the recent attack at Pahalgam. Council members expressed unwavering solidarity with the Armed Forces and lauded the leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India in navigating the nation through this challenging period.
The Council also appreciated the proactive roles of Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Hon'ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for maintaining direct communication with stakeholders. It was highlighted that LG Sinha had assured public support during his pre-conflict interactions, while CM Abdullah demonstrated exceptional dedication by traveling from Kashmir to Jammu to personally engage with civil society representatives. Both leaders also visited several affected border areas to assess the on-ground situation.
Major Concerns Discussed
The ICC meeting highlighted several alarming impacts of the conflict:
Massive displacement of families and destruction of homes in border areas.
Complete halt in tourism, business operations, air, and train services.
Widespread panic leading to labour exodus and closure of industries.
Banks threatening to freeze credit limits and accounts.
Delay in GST refunds, government payments, and denial of insurance under the "Act of War" clause.
Key Demands and Recommendations
The Council urged the Hon'ble Finance Minister of India to announce a special financial assistance package for Jammu & Kashmir and proposed the following urgent measures:
Labour Retention and Rehabilitation
The Council warned of a 70% drop in industrial output due to labour migration. It called for immediate confidence-building measures, including free transportation, official reassurances, and public messaging campaigns via flyers, toll-free helplines, and media channels.
Insurance Coverage
Deep concern was expressed over insurance companies denying property claims citing the "Act of War" clause. ICC resolved to escalate this issue to the Finance Ministry and IRDAI, seeking protection for business interests.
Financial and Industrial Relief
Immediate release of over ?20 crore in GST refunds stuck at Gandhi Nagar Treasury.
50% rebate on minimum electricity charges and no tariff hikes during the crisis.
6-month interest reimbursements for MSMEs, credit score protection, concessional loans, and region-specific RBI relaxations.
Tourism and Education
Fast-track planning for Amarnath Yatra and other tourism initiatives to revive economic activity.
Halt divisive campaigns like "Boycott Kashmir" which also impact Jammu's tourism.
CUET and other higher education exams should be conducted within J&K, with students from outside states allowed to appear here.
Recall of J&K students from institutions like IIT, IIM, and Central Universities amid safety concerns.
Infrastructure and Logistics
24x7 highway operations and diversion of military convoys via Mughal Road to ease traffic.
Creation of an Industrial Consultative Committee with representation from all major sectors.
Immediate disbursement of all pending government payments under health and social schemes like Ayushman Bharat.
Cybersecurity and Information Control
Government must conduct audits of vulnerable digital platforms and establish a Cyber Response Team.
Strong action against misinformation and rumor-mongering on social media, including lodging FIRs.
Education & Transportation
Schools should resume only after complete normalcy; otherwise, online classes should be encouraged.
Full restoration of train and air connectivity was strongly emphasized.
Executive Council Members Present
The meeting was attended by key council members including:
Samardev Charak (Education), Ashish Jain (Govt Supplies), Raj Dua (Industry), Anil Sharma (CA, Kathua), Varun Mahajan (Flour Mills), Gajendra K Lodha (Sutlej Industries), Ali Jaffery (Tourism), Shantanu Gupta (Law), Zeeshan Ahmed (Govt Supplies), Kuldeep Gupta (Shanker Plywoods), Amarjeet Kukreja (C&F), and Niranjan Surana (NCSS).
The Indian Chamber of Commerce, Jammu, made a strong appeal for urgent intervention at the highest level of government to stabilize the situation, revive economic activities, and safeguard the livelihoods of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. |
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