In competing with China and Vietnam, Indian exporters confront half-baked incentive schemes
Synopsis
When the WTO took aim at India’s export incentive schemes, the government quickly came up with a better alternative. But the new scheme is stalling trade deals, claim exporters, as its rates haven’t been notified. And that is not the only problem with it.
Puran Dawar, President of Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber (AFMEC), recalls the days when leather goods exported from Agra were acknowledged globally for their quality and competitive pricing. This, he says, was partly made possible by various provisions under the government s Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
As virus cases drop, hospitals in Agra close Covid wards
As virus cases drop, hospitals in Agra close Covid wards
Caretakers at different crematoriums and graveyards in the region also said the number of last rites performed daily has come down to an almost normal rate now.
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A patient being discharged from AFMEC Covid hospital. (Photo: India Today)
With a rapid decline in the number of new Covid-19 cases in Agra, several private hospitals in the district have started reducing the number of beds reserved for Covid patients in order to cater to patients with other ailments.
According to government sources, only 26 new Covid cases were detected on Tuesday in Agra. Active cases in the district stand at 695, most of which are in home isolation. Oxygen beds were freely available at the SN Medical College and District Hospital, sources said.
Agra s tourism industry in worst phase , footwear manufacturers say let down by Budget Siraj Qureshi
A sense of hopelessness dawned on Agra s tourism and footwear industries that found no mention in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman s Budget speech. Defence and tourism were some of the key sectors that found no place in the Government of India s Budget 2021-22.
The tourism industry employs over 4 lakh people in Agra alone through more than 650 hotels and over 500 restaurants, and hundreds of big and small handicraft shops. Apart from that, photographers, guides, and artisans rely on tourists for their livelihood. Insiders say the industry was already staring at loss of income owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns.