No compensation to IT firms for lockdown in Kashmir: GoI

SRINAGAR — There is no question of providing IT firms with any monetary compensation for loss of business during the lockdown period following the abrogation of Article 370, the Government of India said on Friday.

Responding to a question by Prof M V Rajeev Gowda, politician and academician, in Parliament, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre said: “According to Ministry of Corporate Affairs, no IT company has applied for closure since abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.”

To questions by Gowda, a member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha since July 2014 and a national spokesperson for the Indian National Congress, whether Government has provided these firms with any monetary compensation for loss of business during the lockdown period or/and any financial aid to survive until the restrictions are lifted, Dhotre said: “Does not arise.”

Gowda had also sought to know the number of firms and the amount provided to each as well as whether the government has provided any alternative for the youth employed in the firms.