Internal trade group meets to discuss small traders' issues

A high-level group comprising of various ministries and departments under the chairmanship of Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas met today to determine safeguards for protecting interest of small traders.
The group was constituted in December, 2013 following decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
The Group is supposed to review the existing laws that govern internal trade and the modalities for elimination of internal trade barriers.
The first meeting of the group was chaired by Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas and it was attended by the representatives of Ministry of Medium, Small & Micro Enterprises, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and others, an official statement said.

It has also been asked to determine the safeguards to protect the interest of small traders vis-a-vis organised retail and the need for a regulatory body for the organised retail trade, the statement added.
The Group will make its recommendations within six months from the date of its constitution.