After Surat, Gujarat extends rain relief package to Ahmedabad businesses

The Gujarat government on Tuesday announced a financial rehabilitation package for traders, hawkers and shopkeepers affected by the recent heavy rains in Ahmedabad.

The package offers lump-sum financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh and interest subsidy on loans to help affected businesses resume operations.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Bhupendra Patel. The package covers affected traders in Ahmedabad district as well as areas under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

Government spokesperson and cabinet minister Jitu Vaghani said the package has been prepared on the lines of a similar relief measure announced earlier for rain-affected traders in Surat.

According to a government press release, the package has been approved for traders, hawkers and shopkeepers affected by heavy rainfall in Ahmedabad district and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area.

Vaghani said that under the guidance of the chief minister, the state government has always remained sensitive to the needs of all sections of society. The government has consistently stood by small and big traders as well as self-employed citizens during times of hardship.

He said Ahmedabad is the economic heart of Gujarat, and the government is committed to helping traders recover from losses caused by the heavy rains, restoring their confidence and reviving business activity.

Explaining the package, Vaghani said lump-sum cash assistance will be provided to handcart vendors, street vendors and owners of small and large cabins in the affected areas to help them restart their businesses.

Shop owners who have filed their GST return for the last quarter will receive lump-sum cash assistance of Rs 1 lakh.

He further said traders, owners of large shops and permanent commercial establishments that have filed their GST return for the last quarter will also be facilitated in obtaining loans from banks and financial institutions. The state government will initiate the necessary process for extending financial assistance to the affected business units, the press release stated.