Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 03 December 2022
A group of young entrepreneurs met the Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay on 2nd December 2022, at his office and demanded payment of dues which have been pending for years. These entrepreneurs have supplied vehicles to Assistant Commissioner’s Office against valid supply orders issued on different dates between 30th October 2017 to 5th February 2022.
Vehicles were hired by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner for various purposes such as to facilitate the travel of the Member of Parliament during his visit, for use by the Tehsildar, for use during the elections etc.
Although these entrepreneurs have supplied the vehicles on time and submitted the required bills, their payments have been pending for years.
Some of these entrepreneurs have pending bank loans and they are facing problems in paying their EMIs because of not receiving payments.
Apart from pending dues to entrepreneurs for the supply of vehicles, the Assistant Commissioner Office has also not cleared dues of a restaurant dating back to 2014 for the supply of food during the General Elections to Lok Sabha. Other subsequent bills for the supply of food have also not been cleared.
The office also owes payments to several other entrepreneurs, SHGs etc.
It is very hard to sustain businesses in remote Islands like Great Nicobar and pending payments from Govt. Departments makes it harder for businesses to continue their operations.
Although, there are various reasons why the payment of entrepreneurs is delayed, some within the control of the employees of the Assistant Commissioner Office, some beyond their control, but five years and eight years of delay in making payments is inexcusable.
Many employees responsible for this inexcusable delay have transferred out of the office and are currently working at various other Govt. Departments. They are enjoying timely payment of their salaries, but these entrepreneurs are still suffering in silence, hoping to find someone who would help them.