Traders protest against derogatory remarks

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) A large number of retail traders today took to streets protesting the derogatory remarks made against them in the ICRIER report and asked the government to chalk out a policy for modernisation of traditional trade and set up a "working group" to suggest remedial measures.

The protesters demanded that the Government should provide financial assistance to traders for adoption of modern business techniques and methods in order to face global challenges.

They burnt the copies of the ICRIER report submitted to the government, describing it as biased, misleading document ignoring the ground realities of the Indian retail traders.

The protesters under the banner of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) held a rally at the Jantar Mantar where the leaders demanded that the Government should also give concessions and frame Micro and Small Retailers Act containing cluster approach for linking an individual shop into a chain.

The entry of MNCs in retail had adversely effected the small shopkeepers, be it fruit, vegetable sellers and owners of small Kirana shops and demanded that the Government should set up small working groups to chalk out policies for the retailers, said Praveen Khandelwal Secretary General of CAIT.

The CAIT protested against the remarks made in the para 5.2.6 of the ICRIER (Indian council for research on International Economic Relations) report which says that 'unregognised retailers normally do not pay taxes and most them are not even registered for sales tax, vat or income tax. ''The traders have demanded exclusion of such remarks as it is ill founded and not based on any facts,'' Mr Khandelwal said.

The slogan shouting traders carrying banners and placards termed the report as a calculated effort to promote the big corporate retailers in the market.

UNI SNG PD CS1745