3rd meeting through Video Conferencing with COA Members, representatives of Regional Carpet Manufacturers Associations, Senior Officials from the Central and State Govt.
Chairman informed the participants that Council already had two meetings through Video Conferencing on 9th and 12th April, 2020 with Committee Members and Regional Associations, Prominent members, Buying Representatives, Industry Associates and representative from DGFT and Department of Industry, Govt. of U.P. and sent the brief of the meeting to fall the Members for their information and reference.
Chairman mentioned that the main objective of today’s meeting is on the one hand to apprise the concern and requirements of the Indian Handmade Carpet Industry to the Senior Officials and on the other hand to get the immediate possible solution, suggestions and guidance from the Senior Officials.
Chairman briefed the Principal Secretary MSME about the industry and introduce all the participants in the VC meeting.
Concern of the Members received during meeting are summarized as under:
- To allow movement of pending shipments at different ports and on the way to port
- All exports orders are with prescribed time schedule and delay will lead to cancellation of export orders and products also become outdated in the frequent changing fashion trends.
- Trucks containing the export shipments were stopped at the border of Maharashtra for want of order from the state Govt. for transportation of same at ports.
- How to restart the work of weaving and opening of factories/ units.
- Work of weaving is done by weavers at their homes, how to collect the finished carpets from the weaver’s homes and to make payment to the weavers for their work.
- To expedite pending GST claims of the Member Exporters.
- To divert the funding under MDA Scheme with State Govt. for online promotions and marketing in view of present scenario.
- To consider for relaxation in interest rates for Export Credits.
- Facing problem in clearance of shipments at port with the reason – shortage of labour.
- Weaving is done by weavers at their home or small units/ looms located in different areas, on one loom 8-10 weavers work and number of looms are in thousands, how start the work and how to obtain permission for working of that looms. Not possible for the weavers to obtain permission and no one will give permission in bulk quantity to exporters.
- About 60% of the Members are small exporters (MSME) and are in very bad financial position, unable to bear the cost of wages to the weavers without work and hence require financial assistance of the Govt. to stop weaver’s migration in the hour of crises.
- How to ensure the supply chain of raw-material and other allied services for finishing of carpets.
- Request to waive off the fixed charges of electricity for at least 3-6 months in the present scenario.
- The present guideline of scheme of Provident Fund is for minimum 100 workers with payment of Rs. 15,000/-which is not beneficial and practically applicable to carpet industry and request for specific scheme for the small, cottage base rural industry.
- Request for allowing at least permission of one vehicle to each unit for movement and executing urgent work with permission for 1 + 2 (one driver and two persons).
- Suggested to open camp offices at Bhadohi & Gopiganj by the DMs for issue of passes to the exporters to avoid large gathering in DM office at Gyanpur.
- Govt. has already issued order allowing opening of industries with strict guidelines.
- No activity is allowed in hotspot areas.
- There is no restriction while working by weavers in their homes in village areas outside the MCD areas.
- For the opening of units in SEZ and industrial areas to follow the guidelines with arrangements for proper sanitization, food and stay arrangements in the campus of the units with social distancing.
- There is no ban on transportation and Members can contact the concerned DC office for specific permission for collection of finished carpets from the weaver’s homes.
- For making payment to weavers for their wages advised to use digital mode of payment or to contact your bankers.
- Advised to contact the DCs of Industry department of your areas for all possible assistance including permission for issue of passes, his office will brief the DCs.
- Members can also contact the DM office of the concerned areas and will allow on case to case basis.
- Suggested to advice Members to start the work with minimum workers & weavers upto 1/3rd of their strength.
- For clearance of pending GST claims, advised to submit the details of pending claims preferably through CEPC or Associations for follow-up by his office.
- Will consider the suggestion to divert the funding under MDA Scheme with State Govt. for online promotions & marketing in view of present scenario.
- There is no problem for work in villages by the weavers at their home and when administration is issuing permission to the company, company can issue ID cards to their workers and there may not be requirement for issue of individual permission for each worker. His department will help the exporters in obtaining the permission.
- Will look into the issue to maintain the supply chain of raw-material and allied services for finishing of products.
- Already taken up the issue for waiving off the electricity charges on behalf of the industry but Electricity companies are already running in losses. However, he will look into the issue to cover the losses, if possible.
Shri Sehgal suggested Chairman, CEPC to take the complete feedback from the Member-Exporters and send him in writing the issues and concerns/ requirements of the Members for consideration in the meeting with Hon’ble Chief Minister by Monday.
Sh. Anant Swarup, Joint Secretary, (Logistic), Department of Commerce, Govt. of India – apprise and clarify the participants as under:
- There is clear instruction from the Govt. that there is no restriction on transportation with prescribed guidelines.
- State Govt. has also issued order for transportation of goods and will provide the copy to ED, CEPC for information of Members.
- Members may be perusing with their CHAs and advised to contact custom authorities for clearance of shipments. Govt. has authorized Custom authorities for issue of passes.
- In case Members are still facing problem in clearance of shipments, can submit the details of the specific cases for follow-up.
Shri Govindaraju N.S., IAS, Commissioner & Director Industries, Govt. of U.P., Shri Rajendra Prasad, IAS, DM Bhadohi, Shri Sushil Kumar Patel, IAS, DM Mirzapur and other officials present in the VC meeting aassured all support to the Carpet Industry with proper care as per guidelines and request to start the work with 1/3rd capacity initially instead of full capacity. DM Bhadohi further informed that he authorized SDMs for issue of passes or Exporters can send the request on mail with required details to his office for issue of passes instead of personal visit.
Shri Umesh Kumar Singh, Joint Commissioner (Industries), Varanasi informed the participants as under:
- His department has already issued more than 600 passes.
- There is no permission required for work in home by weavers.
- For movement of workers in their factories, DCs of the area will issue permission on submission of list, as per the guidelines.
- We already issued passes for 2 workers in the units.
- Thanked to exporting community for generously paying the March Salary to weavers / workers. Further requested to make payment of Salary for the month of April 2020 on humanitarian ground to weavers so that they may retain with the exporters
Sh. Amit Kumar, Deputy DGFT, Varanasi informed that Govt. has extended the benefit of MEIS Scheme up to December 2020 and in case Govt. finalize the ROADTEP Scheme the benefit will be applicable up to the date notified. DGFT has also notified help line to resolve and guide the exporters and he is always available to resolve the issues of Carpet Industry.
Chairman convey his thanks to all the participants and assure that the Council will come back for the next meeting after 20th April, 2020 to access the situation for the benefit of the industry.
Meeting ended with vote of thanks to the chair.
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List of Participants
- Shri Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC —– on Chair
- Shri Navneet Sehgal, IAS, Principal Secretary, MSME & Export Promotion, Govt. of U.P. Lucknow.
- Sh. Anant Swarup, Joint Secretary, (Logistic), Department of Commerce, Govt. of India.
- Shri Govindaraju N.S., IAS, Commissioner & Director Industries, Govt. of U.P.
- Shri K. Balaji, Managing Director, Purvanchal Vidhut Vitran Nigam Ltd.
- Shri Rajendra Prasad, IAS, DM Bhadohi
- Shri Sushil Kumar Patel, IAS, DM Mirzapur.
- Shri Umesh Kumar Singh, Joint Commissioner (Industries), Varanasi.
- Sh. Amit Kumar, Deputy DGFT, Varanasi.
- Sh. Onkar Nath Mishra, President AICMA
- Mr. Junaid Ansari- President EUPEA
- Sh. Abdul Hadi—Vice President, AICMA
- Sh. Umesh Kumar Gupta, Member COC, CEPC
- Sh. H. J. Hussaini, Member COA, CEPC
- Sh. R.D. Sharma, President, Agra Exporters Association
- Sh. Gaurav Sharma – Managing Director M/s. Obeete Pvt. Ltd
- Shri Rajesh, M/s Obeetee Pvt. Ltd.
- Sh. Arshad Waziri,
- Sh. Naveen Kapur, Varanasi
- Shri Ravi Patodia, Managing Director M/s Patodia Exports, Bhadohi
- Ms. Alpha Mewa Wala , Managing Director, M/s Agni
- Sh. Iftekar Ahmed, M/s Art Palace
- Sh. Aditya Gupta- Managing Director, M/s. Sharda Exports, Meerut
- Shri Imtiaz, Managing Director, M/s Textico
- Shri Pankaj Baranwal, Managing Director, Bhadohi Carpet
- Shri Anurag Baranwal, M/s Tulsiram Gaya Prasad
- Shri Rajiv Agarwal. Varanasi
- Shri Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director-Cum-Secretary.CEPC
- Shri Jag Mohan, Publicity Officer, CEPC
- Smt. Smita Bhatia, Assistant Director, CEPC
- Shri Anuj, Export Promotion Officer, CEPC
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Apr-23-20
