Government is according priority for the welfare of traders and Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi respects the traders and takes any decision only after consulting them, said Transport Minister K.N.Nehru here on Wednesday.
The Minister who addressed the Traders Day celebration organised by the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation and distributed welfare aid to beneficiaries, said that traders were acting as a bridge between producers and consumers. He said that the Government would redress the grievances of the traders if any.
M.Tamilselvam, State president of the federation, who presided, said that online trading was the main reason for rise in prices of all commodities and wanted the Government to take immediate steps to stop online trading to bring down the prices.
He said that the federation had passed a resolution to ban the entry of multinationals and major domestic companies in retail trade. Another resolution requested the Government to create awareness among the traders about the functioning of the Traders Welfare Board.
The federation has urged the Government to increase the turnover to Rs.20 lakh from the present Rs.10 lakh for small traders prescribed under the VAT Act.
Collector T.Soundiah, Tiruchi Mayor S.Sujatha, Corporation Commissioner T.T.Balsamy, Tamil Nadu Traders Federation State general secretary Ve.Govindarajulu spoke.