Govt urged for loan moratorium, tax relief
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 02 2024:
Meitei-Meetei Tribe Union (MTU), Meitei Pangal Welfare Organisation (MPWO), and Awang Sekmai Advance Women's Society (ASAWS) jointly organised a protest demonstration at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall, here, on Friday demanding the government to ensure moratorium on loans and income tax exemption for the people of the state during the crisis period.
Interacting with the media at the protest site, MTU secretary (administration) Mutum Chu-ramani said that the state has been engulfed in a fierce conflict since May 3 last year resulting in loss of income generation opportunity for most of the people.
Pointing out'that many nave lost their businesses and jobs while around 70,000 people have been rendered homeless, he reasoned that in such a distressful situation, plight of the crisis-affected people should be addressed compassionately rather than compounding their problem.
Keeping in view of the financial hardships being endured by the people, the Government of India should passionately consider moratorium on loans and also to exempt income tax from the people of the state until the crisis is resolved and displaced people are resettled, he stressed.
The secretary also pointed out that contribution of the people of the state towards income tax is around Rs 500 crore a year.
Despite the financial hardships, the interim budget tabled in the Parliament on Thursday did not have any provision for tax exemption for the people of the strife-torn Manipur, he lamented, while demanding the government to consider their demand at the earliest.
Churamani also appealed to the government to provide special financial package for the displaced people so that they could restart their lives.