New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) Expressing displeasure over being neglected at the pre-budget discussion, traders today said Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee should have invited them for the same and paid heed to their demands.
''The country's retail trade is expanding by eight to 10 per cent every year with an addition of 25 million middle class consumers. Ignorance such an important sector in pre-budget consultations smacks of step-motherly treatment to the traders of the country,'' Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) secretary general Praveen
Khandelwal pointed out.
He also said industrialists, financial institutions, trade unions, economists, scientists and even the consumer bodies have been invited for the discussion.
''However, the trading community, which forms nearly 70 per cent of the Indian economy, could not find a place in the list of invitees.'' he stated.
The country's retail accounted for around 10 per cent of the GDP with more than six crore small shopkeepers and the size of retail trade was expected to exceed Rs 20 lakh crore by 2010, he informed.
Mr Khandelwal demanded that the Union Finance Minister call the trade representatives for the discussion so as to facilitate the traders to put forward their problems and suggestions for Centre's consideration.
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