The Jalpaiguri district administration in association with the District Industries Centre (DIC) has launched a “financial clinic”, a facility to help private entrepreneurs, traders and small tea growers get their problems resolved through talks.

Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, said that a number of industrial hubs are coming up in the district. Moreover, industrial units, tea gardens, small tea plantations and factories already exist in the district.

“During interactions, we have learnt that private entrepreneurs face a number of problems which include financial issues. That is why this clinic has been introduced. Every month, this clinic (a session) would be held once at the DIC where bankers and officials of different departments will be present. They will listen to entrepreneurs so that necessary steps can be taken to resolve issues,” said Basu.

On Wednesday, the first such “clinic” session was held at the DIC in the presence of Chandan Pal, its general manager, and other officials. Representatives of small tea growers and local trade bodies attended the clinic.Diverse concerns were voiced.

Bijoygopal Chakraborty, the secretary of Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers’ Association, said that four years back, Rs 1.5 crore reached a local bank from the tea board as the subsidy paid to self-help groups of small tea growers for the construction of a tea factory.

“The bank has not released the funds till date without any proper reason. The self-help group has already invested Rs 3.5 crore for the factory and we are apprehensive that the fund might return to the tea board. We want the administration to intervene,” he said.Kishor Marodia, the joint secretary of the North Bengal National Chambers of Commerce and Industries, said a number of cold storage owners in Jalpaiguri district faced the problem of low voltage.

“Every day, they have to run generators to keep voltage steady. This hikes overhead cost. There are plans to set up new storage units but low voltage is discouraging investors. The administration should take it up with the state power department,” said Marodia. DIC general manager Pal promised to forward these issues to the institutions concerned. GST protestRepresentatives of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Eastern India, (FCCIEI), an apex trade body of 263 business associations of the region, demonstrated in Siliguri on Wednesday against the Centre’s decision to introduce GST in some packaged food products.Surajit Paul, the general secretary of FCCIEI, said it would affect small traders and MSME units.

“We want the Centre to roll back the GST imposed on certain food products. Our organisation is in touch with other trade bodies and if needed, we will go for a joint movement,” said Paul.