Government Should help Small Traders in the Lockdown- ADCTA

The lockdown in several states due to the pandemic has taken a painful toll on small businesses. IT shops, showrooms and other IT related businesses have permanently closed in the country's largest IT market Nehru Place. On this site, small IT traders in the capital seek help and support from the government for their business during the tough time.

The traders say that all shops and offices are closed due to lockdown and income has come to a halt. On the other hand, traders have to pay their office and shops rent, staff salaries, and electricity bills. It is causing an extra burden on small traders without income.

Traders seek that the government should look into this to waive their government taxes and electricity bills during the lockdown period.

DQ Channels received a note from the ADCTA, in which they asserted that the govt has taken the stand that since traders had asked for the lockdown, the govt will collect the taxes etc as before. However, small traders are not in a position to carry the load. Hence, the govt should help the small traders.

Mahinder Agarwal, President, All Delhi Computers Traders Association (ADCTA) said, "We support the government decision to impose a lockdown to curb the rising COVID-19 infection. But the government should look to the small traders whom businesses are badly affected. As the government support farmers to waive off their loans during the natural disaster, on the other hand, Traders who contribute to the national economy, don't directly benefit during the tough time. We want govt to waive off the electricity bills, and a 10% refund on the taxes paid by traders. "

Swaran Singh, General Secretary, ADCTA said, "We have 2500+ traders in Nehru Place IT market. We generate thousands of jobs for the people, paying taxes to the state and the central and contributing to the economy. But when the traders are facing a tough time, the government leave traders unattended and ignored. Government should look for the betterment of the small traders at earliest".

All Delhi Computer Traders Association (ADCTA), Delhi is a registered Society, formed for the purpose of protecting and defending the legal and commercial rights of its member traders.