Hyderabad: Federation of Retailers Association of India (FRAI) has appealed to the Centre and state governments to take immediate measures to protect the livelihood of crores of families engaged in retail business across the country, while voicing against foreign funded NGOs for pressurising the Centre to frame rules on product restrictions, which are against free trade and commerce.
The Telangana unit of FRAI has urged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao to investigate into the willful acts of foreign-funded NGOs against the country’s interests.
Members of FRAI-Telangana staged a dharna by taking out a silent rally at Sanjeevaiah Park, Necklace Road in the city on Thursday in protest against the latest decision of banning tobacco products in micro- retail outlets.
Mohammad Afzalluddin, co-ordinator of FRAI, said, “Over four lakh retail traders will lose substantial revenues and face harassment from officials. Micro-retail outlets are nothing but self-employment for the lower middle-class people. The Centre and state governments should encourage them by providing finance and marketing support. Instead, the Centre is imposing product restrictions on which items are to be sold and which are barred.”
Mohammad Salauddin, Vice-President, FRAI and general secretary of Pan Shops Owners Association of India, said: “It’s restricting the free trade and commerce business in the country. We have over four lakh micro-retailers in Telangnaa. We request the Chief Minister to protect the interests of small traders.”
