New Delhi, Jan 22 (KNN) All India Manufacturers Organisation (AIMO), an apex organisation of manufacturing industries, has demanded uniformity in pricing so that MSMEs become competitive and operationally profitable to survive in today’s unpredictable business environment.

The one-tax-one-country already have been brought in, the country should now have a uniform power tariff, toll charges, fuel prices and education fee structure, said K E Raghunathan, National President, AIMO.

While batting for one-India-one-price mechanism, Raghunathan said “Over 78 million traders and micro, small & medium enterprises present in the country are ‘the engines of growth’ for India.”

In addition, he claimed that operational profits have decreased drastically in these units and called for the removal of cross subsidy-based hike in power rates.

AIMO called for the abolition of trade licences, and sought board-level appointment of an MSME representative in all nationalised banks and PSUs.

He said renewable energy sources ought to be subsidised and also called for IT rebates offered to individuals, apart from seeking uniform power charges for industries. AIMO has proposed the setting up of a separate compliance forum and mechanism along the lines of banking ombudsman for better utilization under the credit guarantee scheme.

Uniformity in stamp duties for property mortgages across states, GST exemption, interest on refunds from governments, early settlement of NPA were some of the other demands the trade body made.

It stressed on the need to put an end to 'frivolous claims' made out by tax administrators, stating this was a singular cause of loss of productive time of MSME owner-executives.

With every transaction of every business being captured 'online' in GSTN and other digital forms of collection, there is actually an information overload with GOI, AIMO claimed, adding that industries needn't be asked to feed any additional information through the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO).

On burgeoning problem of job losses in MSMEs needs, the trade body feels the best solution for this is to provide salary subsidy to MSME for employing fresh engineers or graduates for the first six months.

It also demanded the minimum wages prescribed as per the Act for MSMEs and start-ups to be lowered, and permission granted to MSMEs to use 50 per cent of their workforce as apprentice, in order to enhance skill development in the country.

AIMO also recommended that start-ups be exempted from payments of ESI and PF contributions, GST (both input and output) and income tax for the first five years. Every start-up must be given a conditional grant equal to the amount invested by the promoter, based on an auditor's certificate.

Raghunathan also asked the government to create Rs 2,000 crore fund to invest in startups.

As per AIMO data, sectors requiring immediate revival or reconstruction include real estate, construction, match industry, printing, textiles, start-ups, tanneries, automobiles, power, stone, plastic, consumer products, service industry and infrastructure development.