Team Blitz India
The first meeting of the National Traders’ Welfare Board (NTWB), constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), was held on December 5 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Sunil J. Singhi.
The Board has been constituted to advise the Government for the fulfilment of the following objectives: to identify policy measures for welfare of traders and their employees; to suggest simplifications in the Acts and Rules applicable to traders; to make recommendations to reduce the compliance burden of traders; to improve access to funds for traders; to make recommendations regarding social security benefits like insurance, pension, healthcare etc., for traders and their employees and to make recommendations to address any other problems and issues of traders and their employees.
The Board includes five members having special knowledge of matters relating to the technical or other aspects of retail trade; 10 members representing trade associations; one non-official member representing each state and Union Territory; 9 exofficio representatives from ministries/ departments. Joint Secretary, DPIIT (dealing with internal trade) is the Convener of the Board.
All non-official members nominated by the Central Government representing trade associations and states / UTs attended the meeting of the Board. The meeting was also attended by ex-officio members representing Nine Ministries Departments of Government of India.
Joint Secretary, DPIIT, highlighted the role of all the members and the Board in resolving the issues related to traders. He emphasised that the composition of the Board reflects its scope and strength, so that the wide-ranging issues relevant to the retail sector can be meaningfully addressed.
Chairman Singhi in his address requested all non-official members to submit their suggestions for the welfare of traders, which shall be forwarded to relevant representatives of the ministries / departments for their effective resolution.
A brief presentation about the Open Network for Digital Network (ONDC) was also made before all the Board members and they were requested to promote this initiative of the Government of India amongst the trader community across the country
