Kolhan Khudra Vyapari Sanstha, representing the collective voice of more than 20,000 traders, small retailers and panwallas selling tobacco products in Jamshedpur, are alarmed and has raised strong objections on the order by The Department of Urban Development, Government of Jharkhand which mandates separate license for retailers selling tobacco products like pan, bidi, cigarette, etc.

The order also prohibits sale of any other item of daily needs like biscuits, soft drinks, mineral water etc. from their shop.

Explaining the issue, Shekhar Kumar, secretary of Kolkan Khudra Vyapari Sanstha, said, “In Jamshedpur, like elsewhere in the country the tobacco retailing business has traditionally been in the hands of thousands of small shopkeepers who represent the unorganized sector and operate from small shops.

These retailers have suffered immensely due to lockdown and are struggling for survival. In such depressing times, we are appalled to see that the Urban Development Department of Jharkhand instead of supporting the small retailers has come up with an order that will deal a death blow to marginal retailers by increasing their harassment multi-fold and increasing the cost of doing business, at the same time the new law will reduce their meager daily income, if they are barred from selling items of daily needs in their neighborhood.

This is the time to provide relief to small and marginal retailers and we request the Municipal Corporation not to implement this proposed rule and instead come up with policies that support the creation of livelihood opportunities for our members.”