nThe Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) will launch a nationwide campaign to educate traders about the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate the use of single-use plastic. The traders' body has also decided to distribute bags made of cloths and jute as a Diwali gift to customers.
The CAIT will educate 40 thousand trade associations and their members spread across the country to adopt this campaign and to gift such bags also give to their customers against the cost price.
Welcoming the initiatives announced by the Prime Minister, CAIT in a communication sent to him assured full cooperation of seven Crore strong trading community.
CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said they fully support the move announced on Thursday. However, presently large number of people are employed in manufacturing and trading of plastics and huge investments have been made in this business therefore it is requested that some alternative business allied with their line should be made available to them so that their investment is saved.
"There are certain items which are essentially packed in plastic like milk, dairy products etc. An alternate to these items needs to be identified as these are daily use items by the people," they added.
The traders' body has also suggested the PM that a "Special Task Force" may be constituted with senior officials, representatives of plastic industry and traders to study the impact of plastic ban on employment & trade an recommend remedial steps to the Government in a time bound period.
Khandelwal said that 'Yes to Digital Payment- No to Cash' is one of the most basic fundamental to make India a cashless or less cash Country and CAIT is already educating traders across Country from year 2014 to accept and adopt digital payments and so far it could able to convert about 25per cent traders across Country to accept digital payments.
"CAIT shall be advising the traders to put a Board in their business establishments for "Yes to Digital-No to Cash". However, bank charges levied on digital payment transaction is one of the major roadblock in acceptance of digital payments both by the traders and consumers," the CAIT said in a statement, adding that to encourage digital payments, the bank charges on digital payments should be subsidised by the Government to banks.
It also suggested that an independent regulator for digital payments be constituted and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) should be asked to intensify a campaign to take Rupay down the line across Country.