New Delhi, Apr 4 (KNN) In its bid to play a decisive and crucial role in forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today released a National Charter of Traders at Pondicherry at its two days National Conference of Trade leaders of the country.

The Charter lists out core issues concerning domestic business of the country. While making a strong and straight declaration of converting 7 crore traders and their 30 crore employees across country in a vote bank, the CAIT in an unequivocal term said that trading community across the country will vote collectively to the party who accepts and promises to implement the Charter.

Gross neglect of traders in the country since decades has compelled us to convert traders into a vote bank and after analyzing the response of the parties; the CAIT will issue a mandate and urge the traders across country to vote accordingly, it said.

The two day conference was attended by more than 200 prominent trade leaders from 26 states across the country.

National President, CAIT, B C Bhartia and Secretary General, Praveen Khandelwal while releasing the Charter said that the National Charter of Traders demand a robust e-commerce policy to clean current highly vitiated e-commerce business in India and provide equal level playing field and fair competition.

A National Trade Policy for retail trade and creation of a separate Ministry of Internal Trade, formation of a retail regulatory authority and a regulatory authority for e-commerce on the pattern of SEBI, simplification and rationalization of GST tax structure, scheme for up gradation and modernization of existing retail trade in India, incentives for adoption and acceptance of digital payments by traders including waiver of bank charges on digital transactions are some of the issues listed in the Charter.

Introduction of a balanced Model Tenancy Act, overall review of Food Safety and Standards Act, amendments in procedure of Mudra Yojana by including non-banking finance companies and micro finance institutions as loan disbursement agencies instead of banks, formation of a National Board of internal trade comprising representatives of trade are amongst some other issues mentioned.

The Charter further demands accidental insurance of Rs 10 lakh for traders registered under GST as implemented in UP, subsidy to traders for adoption of computer system in existing format of business, lower interest rate 2% less than prevailing interest rate by banks & financial institutions and pension to traders after attaining age of 65 years are other issues included in the Charter.

The Charter also include redefining of credit norms for small businesses, better infrastructure facilities in commercial markets , augmentation of safety and security of traders and commercial markets with help of trade associations, food grains and essential items should be taken out from commodity exchanges and abolition of toll tax payers in Jammu , mandi tax and professional tax across country to make GST as one tax regime, only one license for conducting any business in India and representation to traders from gram panchayat to state legislative council.

The conference also decided to continue its national campaign "One Nation-One Trader-Ten Votes" across country more vigorously to aware traders about importance of their vote with a slogan "Vote You Must-Party who trust traders".