Shops and business establishments such as hotels and bakeries remained closed throughout Wednesday after a call from the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) for a day-long protest action, among other things, against ‘anomalies’ in the implementation of Goods and Services Tax regime; failure of the government to bring about a Rent Control Act and a recent notification that all business establishments must set up their own waste treatment facilities. The district president of KVVES, P.A.M. Ibrahim, described Wednesday’s strike as total. He claimed that KVVES had around 55,000 members directly attached to the Samithi in the district. They are spread over 258 units. He said that all the members participated in the strike.
He said the traders’ body also wanted the government to consider providing compensation and rehabilitation to people who are affected by road widening and other development activities. “When land is acquired for these activities, including widening of roads, landowners are paid compensation whereas traders, who are affected, are hardly looked after,” he alleged.
Traders have also raised their voice against a recent Union government move to restrict cigarette sales to shops solely selling such products. “If a shop has to sell only cigarettes, it will affect the livelihood of over 2.5 lakh people in the State,” said Mr. Ibrahim. The move, he alleged, was only to help big corporates.
“There are around 2.5 lakh small shops that sell cigarettes and other assorted items. If the sale has to be restricted solely to cigarettes, it will affect the future of these small business owners,” he added.