Skip to content Skip to navigation

Despite a ‘misrepresentation’, Guwahati Trade strike successful

The traders strike in Guwahati against hike in trade license fees was a grand success despite a ‘misrepresentation’ by Kamrup Chamber of Commerce (KCC). All Guwahati Traders’ Association (AGTA), a federation of several retailers’ organizations gave a call for 12-hour trade strike on 18th April, in protest of three times hike in trade license fees by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). Another federation of merchants, namely, Assam Chamber of Commerce (ACC) also launched agitation on the same issue. But the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce (KCC), representing big business houses and wholesalers, controlling the economic affairs of Guwahati as well as the entire northeastern region, so far kept silence on the issue and on the eve of strike created confusion among the people announcing ‘withdrawal of strike’. It was interesting to note that an organization like KCC, which was not a party to the agitation, had a ‘secret discussion’ with the officials of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and announced the withdrawal of the strike for which it had not given a call. However, the retailers of the city fully aware of the facts did not pay attention to the rumors.

The retailers are the worst affected by GMC’s unilateral decision of hike in trade license fees. Most of small traders are not in position to earn even two meals a day for their family due to lack of capital to run their business. If they have to pay more on trade license fees and other taxes they would have to close down their business. The GMC officials do not respond to the memoranda and letters of the agitating organizations, instead they try to create misunderstanding through another organization of ‘their interest’. It has been alleged by the traders that the GMC has failed to provide even basic amenities and develop the markets, because of rampant corruption and that is why it does not try to collect funds from other resources by increasing its network to other spheres. Instead it always tries to impose more and more levies and taxes on those who abide by the law and pay them regularly. A number of traders, contractors and professionals carry on business without trade licenses, but the GMC does not dare to approach them. If all the traders are given trade licenses, the GMC may earn more money and even the present trade license fees could be reduced, feel traders. It is only possible by a clean and transparent management of the affairs, which the GMC lacks. However, due to Lok Sabha elections the GMC could not react being afraid of violation of code of conduct.

Author info

Daya Nath Singh's picture

Journalist; Guwahati Press Club office Secretary

Add new comment

Random Stories

People queue for screening at GMCH in Guwahati on 08-05-20. Pix BY UB photos

Real face of yeoman service pathetic

8 May 2020 - 5:56pm | AT News
Guwahati: The BJP-led coalition government's much hyped yeoman service stands exposed with one after returnees disclosing their miseries.  The journey by bus to the state was not at all free...

DHD reiterates Dimaraji demand

29 Apr 2012 - 1:04pm | Anup Biswas
The Peoples Supreme Council of Dimaraji (PSCD) and Dima Halam Daogah(DHD) appeals the authorities of NHAI, NF Railway, ONGC and NEEPCO to stop all activities for 36 Hrs. from 5 AM of 8th May to 5 PM...

Biren Singh to be Manipur CM

13 Mar 2017 - 7:01pm | AT News
Veteran BJP leader Nongthombam Biren Singh will take oath as Manipur Chief Minister on Tuesday. The newly elected party legislators met in Imphal on Monday where Singh emerged as the consensus leader...

Kula Saikia opposes CAA

3 Jan 2020 - 10:37pm | AT News
Newly elected Asom Sahitya Sabha President Kula Saikia has opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act. Saikia, who retired as Assam DGP in November 2019, said that the Act could not be accepted. Speaking...

Other Contents by Author

Gamusas and Japis are two important items in Assam, which are in much demand throughout the year in the state especially during festival seasons and social functions. These items are demanded by the people to honor the guests and honorable persons during each and every event.  However, it has been found that throughout the festival seasons the supply of locally woven gamusas are not according to demand by the customers. The reason behind it is said to be heavy cost of the locally produced items. On the other hand the weavers and traders from other parts of the country take advantage of supplying gamusas at cheaper rates and make more profit despite spending heavy cost on...
Archaeological Survey of India, Guwahati circle, has been trying to take-up the work of repairing of a broken pillar in the Mandap of Hayagriva Madhav Temple at Hajo for a long time. ASI, Guwahati has informed the media through a press note that one of the pillars of ancient temple was broken in three parts due to rusting of the iron dowels holding each other and the other developed cracks due to the same reason and widened more after the earthquake of May 2015. Hayagriva Madhav Temple is a reconstructed temple during the Koch period. The architectural parts of the earlier temple have been used for reconstruction. Different parts of the temple have been used randomly for making the pillars...
There is a generation gap between the signing of Assam Accord on the Independence Day 1985 and the present generation has to face new challenges to compete with the world class people in all spheres of development. The young people are confused over the airing of old issues which have lasted for long 31 years in absence of any solution. The issues pertaining to the Accord have become irrelevant under the present circumstances. The Assam Accord issue is still haunting and confusing the present generation due to absence of a clear picture. The fate of the Accord is not known to the people in general. A few politicians and intellectuals are trying to raise the issues of the accord from time to...
It is an established fact that a person involved in political activities cannot remain in peace till his cherished dreams are fulfilled. This can be noticed through the recent statements of former Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, who has been expressing his views frequently in media against the four months old BJP-led alliance government in the state under the chief minister ship of Sarwanand Sonowal.  He (Gogoi) dares to demand a ‘white paper’ from state government about the steps taken by it to clear the encroachments of forest and other government  lands in the state and also to let the people of the state know, what action it has taken to identify and deport the foreign...
Addressing a huge gathering of residents of Udaypur, Jonakpur and Birubari at Udaypur Kali Mandir complex on Sunday, July 3, 2016, East Guwahati Assembly Member, Siddharth Bhattacharjee, emphasized the need of implementing the vision document of development as envisaged by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the function organized by Udaypur Yuva Sangha to felicitate him on his success in the recently concluded polls to the state Assembly, he conveyed his thanks to the people of the area for showing their confidence in him. He assured the people that he would not let their confidence go in vain. The meeting was presided over by Dr Phani Borah. Senior citizen of the locality Kartik...
Hardly a few days ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Alliance has taken the reign of Assam administration the results of efforts made by Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi to bring back black money to the state coffer, has started recently with the arrest of Dhemaji Divisional Forest Officer, Mahat Chandra Talukdar by anti-corruption department. For a long time the reports of wildlife crimes were in the air, but the previous state administration ruled by Congress Party under the three-terms  leadership of Tarun Gogoi did not try to take any action. The former Chief Minister Gogoi was under a wrong impression that the people who gave him a...
A study conducted by B Boruah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, has revealed that during a decade from 2001-02 to 2011-12, cancer cases in the north-eastern part of the country have gone up from 5,404 to 8,708. A campaign, namely, Cycle 4 ride can help control this dreaded disease. In order to raise awareness to fight cancer a lady, namely, Marcellna Sangma, is going to lead a Biker Mission to 600 kms long stretch from Guwahati to Bum La Pass, near Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. The ride is scheduled to be flagged off by Dr Amar Chandra Kataki, Director, B Boruah Cancer Institute, on April 21, 2016.Expressing her traumatic experience with cancer, Sangma, who was a cancer patient a decade...
Being disturbed since the first phase of polling for Assam Assembly on April 4 last, the Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi is finding it difficult to remember the history of Assam agitation propelled by All Assam Students Union (AASU) since the year 1979 to the Independence Day of 1985, resulting in the Assam Accord which was signed between the Assam Government and the movement leaders in presence of erstwhile prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Heavy polling beyond 85 percent of the electorate in the second phase also made Gogoi to think over the majority of young and new voters were not the ‘beneficiaries of getting blankets, yarn and mosquito nets’. They are young, energetic, literate and...
Continuing campaigns for Assam Assembly elections have confused the Assam intellectuals to raise vital issues before the future state legislators and improve the quality of political atmosphere affecting the entire society for quite some time. Almost all political parties have started ‘derogatory’ comments against their rivals for attracting the electorates by their acts and objectives about which they are themselves ignorant. The main reason behind such interpretation is lack of knowledge about the real issues on which the political parties are campaigning. Assam as a state of multi-lingual and religious people continued to be disturbed since the year1979, when several organizations under...
Long awaited North East Graduate Congress, an initiative of Education Research Development Foundation (ERDF) is going to be held from February 26 to 28, 2016. This is the only graduate congress in India being organized by University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) in association with RIST and supported by the State Bank of India (SBI). The venue of the congress is the USTM campus at 9th mile, Khanapara. Addressing the media persons in Guwahati on February 14, 2016, the USTM spokesperson informed that the three days congress is aimed to enhance all round development and bring out the capabilities of future graduates through various life skill processes to bring out  their...