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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