Stakeholders seek separate skill development university, promotion of tourism, addressing unemployment
Srinagar, Feb 11 :
Ahead of the maiden Budget session of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met traders, tour operators, hoteliers and people associated with education sector to seek their suggestions.
According to details available wit news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), representatives of different bodies, including the KCCI, FCIK, KTMF, Travel Agents Association, Education, Hoteliers and others put forth their suggestions for the upcoming budget.
The KCCI delegation led by senior vice president Ashiq Hussain Shangloo, secretary general Faiz Bakshi and Mushtaq Ahmad Wani presented a detailed document, mentioning the challenges and priorities for different sectors.
According to the KCCI, it put forth suggestions regarding alarming rise in unemployment and sought budgetary provisions in sectors with potential to create jobs, promote private sector, encourage entrepreneurship and start-ups and lay stress on skill development.
Also, the delegation sought incentives on exports for handicraft products, enhancement in incentives for GI products and also the establishment of an international exhibition mart.
The traders also demanded promotion of adventure tourism, preservation of houseboats as heritages and also promotion of Downtown (Shehr-e-Khas) as a heritage tourism destination.
The delegation also put forth their suggestions for sectors like Agriculture, Horticulture, Education, Industry, Health and general trade.
Rouf Tramboo, who participated in the meeting, told KNO that they put forth their demands regarding enhancement of budget for tourism development authorities.
“We have raised the issue of increasing carrying capacity at popular tourist places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and others. Flow of tourists is increasing and thus there is a need to increase the capacity and also come up with tourism related facilities at these places,” Tramboo said, adding that they also raised the issue of promotion of Kashmir as a tourism destination at apt places.
In the meeting, the hoteliers also raised the issue of hindrances they face with regard to upgrading their infrastructure. Demand for separate skill development university was also raised in the meeting.
The representatives said that the Chief Minister gave them a patient hearing and they are hopeful that suggestions put forth by them will be incorporated in the upcoming budget.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held three back-to-back pre-budget consultation meetings with the stakeholders to get suggestions from people associated with different sectors—(KNO)