While the entire world seems tired of living under months-long coronavirus-related lockdowns, people in Indian-controlled Kashmir have witnessed almost 3000 days of lockdown over the past 20 year.

Kashmir’s business owners say survival has become next to impossible.

New Delhi announced a special package of almost two and a half million dollars to support the people during the COVID-19 lockdown, but no fund has been allocated for Jammu and Kashmir.

To highlight their plight, over 30 trade bodies of Kashmir held a media briefing and demanded government support to revive their businesses.

Last year, Kashmir’s chamber of commerce and industries gave a preliminary loss report, according to which Kashmir’s businesses lost around 2.4 billion dollars in 2019.

This year Kashmir’s businesses have lost 1.2 billion USD so far.

Kashmir’s economy mostly depends on its horticulture and tourism sector. Years of political instability have taken a serious toll on almost all aspects of life in Kashmir.

In the midst of the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, Kashmiris are mainly complaining about the government’s indifference. They say authorities need to take serious measures to help Kashmir’s economy recover.

SOURCE: PRESS TV