Kolkata, Sep 16 (UNI) Besides fighting a survival battle in the Covid-19 hit global market,

exporters are facing a tedious and tiring process back home of getting GST refunds and

the MEIS entitlements due for the period much before a Rs 2 crore limit was fixed under

the government's flagship scheme, engineering export body EEPC India has said.

"We are receiving grievances from our members that the shipping bills are not receiving

validation in time for processing of GST refunds.

" The July bills , submitted within due dates have not been validated so far, " EEPC India

Chairman Mahesh Desai said in a statement.

He said, while the government has imposed a Rs 2-crore reward limit per IEC under the

Merchandise Exports from India (MEIS) scheme from September 1,2020, exporters have

not received the entitlements even for April-August.

" Greater clarity is required and dues as per the old norms should be paid for the period

when there was no limit on the rewards," Mr Desai said.

Similar issues of lack of access have been confronted by exporters for GST refunds via

the concerned GST portal, the EEPC India said.

' We are poised at a very delicate stage. While the global trade is re-opening, exporters

are facing huge problems of logistics, regulatory hurdles as also skewed demand. Under

such circumstances, the exports need to be supported by the governmment, " Mr Desai

said.

He said engineering exports generate large scale employment , particularly in the small

and medium enterprises.

While lockdown has been officially lifted, there are several problems still being faced by manufacturers.

The shortage of labour is still being felt, even as movement of personnel from one state

to the other is being restricted despite the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to the

contrary.

' Banks are not willing to extend the moratorium on loan repayments while GST dues are

piling up, along with MEIS entitlements, " the EEPC India said.

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