The Federation of All-Odisha Traders’ Association (FAOTA) on Thursday began its indefinite strike stopping import of pulses, wheat and wheat products from outside the State to press its demand for the waiver of the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on these products.
Notably, Odisha imports 90 per cent of these products from outside the State to meet its requirements. However, the traders’ body said the State has enough stocks of these products that can meet people’s requirement for a week. “If the Government fails to fulfil our demand soon, supplies will not be normalised which would ultimately result in a crisis,” said a trader.
FOTA general secretary Sudhakar Panda said the traders have completely stopped import of dal and wheat items. “This will continue for an indefinite period. Our next step depends on the response of the State Government,” he said.
Panda said stocks available with the traders would last for five to seven days if consumers go for normal buying and in case of panic buying the stocks would last for three days only. On the other hand, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma appealed to the traders to allow some more time to the Government to take a decision on their demand.
“I strongly believe that the traders’ body will understand the sense of the Government in the matter. The Government requires some more time to take a decision. I request the traders to withdraw the strike and to come forward for a discussion with the Government in the interests of the consumers,” Dasburma said.
He expressed the hope that the traders’ body would come forward for a discussion with the Government. However, the Minister said that the people need not worry over the development. “As of now, there is no crisis of dal and wheat products in the market. The prices of pulses like arhar, moong and other varieties are stable in the market. There is nothing to panic at present,” Dasburma said.
It may be noted that these traders had gone for a two-day strike in December 2014 and later withdrawn the strike as the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes assured them that their demand would be resolved in the new fiscal year (2015-16).
The traders’ body argues that the State Government should lift the 5-per cent VAT on these products as 24 States in the country don’t impose such a tax on these items.