 Early Times Report
Jammu, July 2: Calling for protection of small and medium traders from the onslaught of deep pocket Retail Giants besides formation of a fair play policy to govern the trade, Chamber of Traders Federation on a call given by Confederation of All India Traders(CAIT) held a protest demonstration in Jammu against the Walmart-Flipkart deal.
"There is a widespread resentment among Indian traders against the deal between American multibrand behemoth Walmart and Indian E-Commerce giant flipkart. This is a case of multinationals taking advantage of relaxation given by the Government and entering the Indian market through backdoor. Government of India's retail market that is already going through the ordeals of demonetization and GST", the protesters said.
The demand was made by Neeraj Anand, President Chamber of Traders Federation(regd.) While addressing a gathering of Jammu's prominent Trade leaders and retailers protesting against the unholy deal.
Today it's through online platform, tomorrow it will be extended through open stores. In the process therefore everyone in the present retails chain whether wholesaler or distributor or small retailers shall suffer in due course of time, saidAnand.
Licensed to deal in wholesale trade, the front companies have already played havoc by directly reaching the consumer, complained Anand.
"With the advent of automation in heavy industries and to large extent in medium and small scale industries, the entrenchment and declining intake of industrial labour, the emerging situation shall simply multiply the already grave unemployment problem.
In such a scenario, it will always be the small retailer, shopkeeper who can come to the rescue of the government by employing the idle labour force as salesmen, helpers, accountants, computer operators, semiskilled labour and even guards."
Presence of multinational companies like Walmart enjoying humongous resources shall completely destroy the large scale adjustment of illiterate and semi-illiterate labour force at the micro level. This shall amount to "Retail Terrorism" of sorts, said Anand.
On completion of 1st year of GST regime he elaborated on the role played by CTF. While complimenting the government of India on relief extended from time to time he called upon the government to review the top rate of 28 percent more especially for items being used for construction purpose.
Anand hailed Praveen Khandelwal, Gen. Secretary, CAIT as well as member GST Council for the constructive role he played in formation of traders friendly policies on GST.
Pointing towards the large scale evasion by unscrupulous elements in connivance, he appealed to the Governor, N.N Vohra to examine the whole gamut of Toll Tax on goods and abolish it completely in the true spirit of "One Nation One Tax' as espoused by the Prime Minister Narender Modi. |
