Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has urged the Government of India to reconsider hike in excise and custom duty on jewellery as this will harm and affect their business.
In a letter written to Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukharjee, the Chief Minister has pointed out that jewellery making was the largest source of self-employment in the country. A large number of skilled people were engaged in it who will have to face hardships following this decision. He further said this sector had a scope of absorbing more than ten lakh people. Moreover, the government had not been providing any assistance to this sector; therefore they should not be put under extra financial burden.
Chief Minister has said that the Government had been endeavouring to provide self-employment avenues to the skilled men power but such steps would certainly discourage this spirit. He said that Indian jewellery had a great scope and demand outside the country as well. He said that there should be no taxation on self-employment avenues and Government should reconsider levy of excise and custom duty in it. Besides reconsidering the hike made in the excise duty, the Chief Minister has also urged for providing some incentives to the jewellers so that this sector was strengthened further.
