Sopore, October 2: Abdul Gani Vakil, senior vice president of the Peoples Conference (PC) and a former minister, expressed his concern and anguish over what he called the UT administration’s treatment of Kashmir’s fruit industry in a stepmotherly manner. He claimed that the current administration, particularly the central government, has completely ignored Kashmir’s fruit industry because no incentives are being provided to advance the sector.
Despite promises made on numerous occasions by previous administrations and even the current UT government to completely waive KCC loans and provide a special economic package, nothing has been done thus far in this direction in light of the economic crisis and natural disasters, which Vakil claimed have essentially destroyed the industry. It is surprising and unfortunate that, despite the fruit industry being the foundation of the economy, the UT administration and the federal government have turned a blind eye.
According to Abdul Gani Vakil, who spoke at party worker meetings in Botango, Muqamshierf, Reban, and Ferozpora, Rafiabad, it is urgent for both the UT and the Centre governments to step up and offer fruit growers every kind of support and assistance in order to revive the industry and ensure the survival of thousands of people and families who depend on it for their livelihood.
Both the weather and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the already-collapsing fruit industry. Government intervention is urgently needed to save the industry by approving special economic packages and waiving off KCC loans and other loans that have already made fruit growers’ lives miserable. Transport costs are out of control, and fruit farmers are generally unable to deal with the situation, according to Vakil.
Additionally, Abdul Gani Vakil paid a visit to the victims of the fire at Shalikut, Rafiabad, where five homes were reduced to rubble. While expressing his sorrow for the victims, Vakil requested that the impacted get prompt assistance, both in cash and in kind, to prevent more suffering throughout the next winter.
