Delhi's trade, industry have big do-list for Kejriwal; easy VAT on top
Updated: Dec 28, 2013 01:54:19pm
New Delhi, Dec 28 (KNN) Whether it is a complicated VAT structure and the problems of parking for traders in Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar in walled city or creaking infrastructure in the industrial estates, Delhi trade and industry bodies have high hopes on Arvind Kejriwal - led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which has been voted to governance on the anti-corruption plank.
Immediately after being sworn in as Chief Minister along with six other ministers, the activist-turned politician said his government would set up in the next two days a helpline where citizens can lodge their complaints against corrupt officials seeking favours for the legitimate services expected from the administration.
“If any officer asks for money, do not say no, pay him and then contact us, approach me through a helpline…” Kejriwal said addressing a mammoth crowd of about one lakh people at the historic Ram Leela Maidan, the venue of the swearing in ceremony.
“The major issues that concern the industries are industrial area infrastructure and taxation. For last 10-15 years no industrial areas has been developed. New Commercial space should be developed so that new employment opportunities could be created,” said the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME).
It said the new government should formulate policies on trade and industry in consultation with the industry bodies, particularly those representing of the micro, small and medium units.
For President of Chandani Chowk Jewellers Association, Surendra Kumar Jain, a complicated VAT structure has been a major irritant for the trader community in the capital city.
“We want peace and security. The taxation is very high and complicated. We want VAT to be simplified. The traffic and infrastructure is the major concern in Chandani Chowk….the roads are so narrow and bad that the buyers/customers don’t want to come here…There is no parking facility at all here. Last government came out with many plans for Chandani Chowk but nothing was implemented…Also, there is problem of theft and pick pocket here. We need safety and security here,” he said.
President of the Delhi Stainless Steel Cutlery Association, Vijay Malik from the Wazirpur Industrial Area, said the AAP Government should “first fulfil their promises of electricity and water. Besides, VAT is a major issue for the industry. Two years ago the VAT on utensils and cutlery items was increased from five per cent to 12.5 per cent; one week later the VAT on ‘bartans’ was reduced back to five per cent. We had to face so many problems in billing. Most of the traders here are local traders/manufacturers. Rather than going through the complicated process of billing they would put 12.5 per cent VAT on all items. Such complicated measures were promoting wrong doings. We will approach the AAP government and let’s see what they can do for us.”
He further said that Wazirpur has major issue of bad infrastructure, roads, potholes, water logging and safety/security.
“We are not able to reach our offices in the rainy seasons. No buyers want to come here. We want AAP to address these issues”.
Immediate Past President of Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), K K Kapila said, “Our expectation from the AAP is that they provide good environment and good governance to help the industry and trade. We need decision making by the government which should be for the benefit of the people and not for the vote bank. We want the government to cut down the red tape…removing the obstacles of the red tape will help the industry, trade and commerce. Power is a major problem. The rates are too high.”
Providing a simple structure for Value Added Tax and improvement of infrastructure in the industrial estates are part of the election manifesto of the Aam Admi Party, which has formed government with the outside support of the Congress Party. The AAP had won 28 seats, second best after 32 of the BJP. It chose to form the government after BJP refused to form the government. However, the choice was made after getting feedback from the public through contact programmes, SMS and phones. (KNN/PC/SD)
Immediately after being sworn in as Chief Minister along with six other ministers, the activist-turned politician said his government would set up in the next two days a helpline where citizens can lodge their complaints against corrupt officials seeking favours for the legitimate services expected from the administration.
“If any officer asks for money, do not say no, pay him and then contact us, approach me through a helpline…” Kejriwal said addressing a mammoth crowd of about one lakh people at the historic Ram Leela Maidan, the venue of the swearing in ceremony.
“The major issues that concern the industries are industrial area infrastructure and taxation. For last 10-15 years no industrial areas has been developed. New Commercial space should be developed so that new employment opportunities could be created,” said the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME).
It said the new government should formulate policies on trade and industry in consultation with the industry bodies, particularly those representing of the micro, small and medium units.
For President of Chandani Chowk Jewellers Association, Surendra Kumar Jain, a complicated VAT structure has been a major irritant for the trader community in the capital city.
“We want peace and security. The taxation is very high and complicated. We want VAT to be simplified. The traffic and infrastructure is the major concern in Chandani Chowk….the roads are so narrow and bad that the buyers/customers don’t want to come here…There is no parking facility at all here. Last government came out with many plans for Chandani Chowk but nothing was implemented…Also, there is problem of theft and pick pocket here. We need safety and security here,” he said.
President of the Delhi Stainless Steel Cutlery Association, Vijay Malik from the Wazirpur Industrial Area, said the AAP Government should “first fulfil their promises of electricity and water. Besides, VAT is a major issue for the industry. Two years ago the VAT on utensils and cutlery items was increased from five per cent to 12.5 per cent; one week later the VAT on ‘bartans’ was reduced back to five per cent. We had to face so many problems in billing. Most of the traders here are local traders/manufacturers. Rather than going through the complicated process of billing they would put 12.5 per cent VAT on all items. Such complicated measures were promoting wrong doings. We will approach the AAP government and let’s see what they can do for us.”
He further said that Wazirpur has major issue of bad infrastructure, roads, potholes, water logging and safety/security.
“We are not able to reach our offices in the rainy seasons. No buyers want to come here. We want AAP to address these issues”.
Immediate Past President of Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), K K Kapila said, “Our expectation from the AAP is that they provide good environment and good governance to help the industry and trade. We need decision making by the government which should be for the benefit of the people and not for the vote bank. We want the government to cut down the red tape…removing the obstacles of the red tape will help the industry, trade and commerce. Power is a major problem. The rates are too high.”
Providing a simple structure for Value Added Tax and improvement of infrastructure in the industrial estates are part of the election manifesto of the Aam Admi Party, which has formed government with the outside support of the Congress Party. The AAP had won 28 seats, second best after 32 of the BJP. It chose to form the government after BJP refused to form the government. However, the choice was made after getting feedback from the public through contact programmes, SMS and phones. (KNN/PC/SD)
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