The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) has demanded a separate department for retail trade in the State to enrich the sector, to protect existing jobs and to create new ones. Listing difficulties faced by the retail sector, the Samithi requested the government to recommend the GST council and the Food Safety Authority to raise the GST registration and FSSAI licence limits to ₹2 crore. The Samithi also demanded the State to extend consideration given to the agricultural sector, small-scale industries, and start-ups to small-scale traders as well to enable them to avail bank loans at 4-6% interest. “Small-scale trade is collapsing. While seeking action against unlicensed street vendors, the Samithi also sought relaxation in tax to support small traders.

Source: The Hindu November 27, 2023 12:56 UTC