Traders against licence fee hike

Shutdown planned on February 20

The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi is up in arms against the city Corporation’s and other local bodies’ move to increase the licence fee for commercial establishments.

Addressing a press conference, office-bearers of the Samithi’s district committee said shopkeepers in the district would mark their protest against the move by observing a shutdown on February 20. “The licence fee has been increased by five to 12 times of the existing rate. For the shopkeepers who are already struggling after the implementation of GST and demonetisation, this has come as a blow. The local bodies, which are facing a revenue fall, are trying to pass the burden of their financial difficulties on to the shopkeepers,” said S.S. Manoj, district general secretary of the Ekopana Samithi.

‘Guidelines violated’

According to him, the increase in the licence fee violates the existing guidelines on the same. The fees have been fixed separately for different products, adding up all of which will result in a huge amount. “Because of this vague system, the rates differ in different places. Sometimes, small-time traders end up shouldering a bigger burden than owners of bigger shops. A person running a puncture workshop was asked to pay a huge licence fee, because he is using a compressor in his shop,” said Mr. Manoj. However, Deputy Mayor Rakhee Ravikumar said the increase in licence fee was done within the norms only.

The Ekopana Samithi has now requested the Minister for Local Self Governments and officials concerned to extend the last date for renewal of the licence and payment of the fee to March 31, from February 28.