CAIT Survey Discloses as GST Reg. Big Hurdle for Small Shop Owners

The simplicity of performing the business for MSMEs: CAIT released a survey that, e-commerce is a potential mode of business activity, and essential GST enrollment to selling the goods online is an effective solution for the small businesses. As per CAIT which shows nearly 8 cr traders across 40,000 trade associations, the online survey was done by its research arm CAIT Research Trade Development Society (CRTDS) and obtained 630 responses from 21 cities in 24 states.

72% of respondents know that e-commerce is an essential channel for the business but 66% mentioned that GST enrollment is an issue. GST enrollment is an essential part for the businesses who look to sell the goods through e-commerce even as the official businesses with up to Rs 40 lakh yearly turnover are privileged from GST.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid much weight on adoption and acceptance of digital technology by even the last mile person, (hence), this condition needs to be abolished in order to facilitate small traders take advantage of e-commerce in widening their business,” CAIT National President BC Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said in a joint statement.

Moreover, 94% of respondents mentioned that e-commerce firms are killing their business by their monopolistic terms and flouting policies. 89% suggested that e-commerce compliance is required for an effective e-commerce business whereas 92% mentioned that the present FDI scheme in the retail required essential changes.

CAIT for years imposes business malpractice like discounting, predatory pricing, preferential treatment to sellers, circumvention of FDI laws, and additionally via e-commerce companies like Amazon, Flipkart, etc.

“In comparison to offline retailers, the e-commerce scenario is completely free from all kinds of restrictions, giving a free way to any person to trade anything without caring about laws…No more leverage should be given to e-commerce companies. They should be made more transparent in their business dealings, Bhartia and Khandelwal said.”