In a move to revitalise trade and industry, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced the formation of the Delhi Traders Welfare Board, a platform dedicated to making the city more trader-friendly. The formation of the Delhi Traders Welfare Board was one of the key promises made by the BJP in its manifesto during the Assembly polls. Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said the initiative is expected to benefit more than eight lakh registered traders in Delhi. The board will play a crucial role in promoting the interests of traders and contributing to the citys economic growth. Elaborating on the structure of the board, the Chief Minister said that it will be chaired by the Minister for Industries Manjinder Singh Sirsa, with the Commissioner of the Industries Department acting as the Member Secretary. A nominated Deputy Commissioner-level officer will serve as Treasurer. The board will have a total of 15 members, including six from various Government departments such as MCD, the Labour Department and the Department of Trade and Taxes, and nine members including vice-chairman representing the trading community. These will be active trader representatives who have been working to resolve trader issues for a long time. The board will serve as a strong communication bridge between the government and traders, simplify trade-specific issues and procedures, implement social security and welfare schemes, and promote Ease of Doing Business. In addition, the board will boost employment and investment and will also manage a Trader Welfare Fund, she said. Under this, the Government will also provide a Grant-in-Aid of `10 crore, which has been allocated in the budget and will be used for welfare schemes, the Chief Minister further said. The board will also provide legal aid, organise events and create an IT portal to facilitate communication between the Government and traders, said CM Gupta. The board aims to simplify regulatory frameworks, streamline processes to ease regulatory challenges for traders, provide welfare schemes by implementing welfare schemes for traders and ensure their well-being and support. It will also foster an environment that promotes employment and investment opportunities, said the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister emphasised that the board will not be limited to policy-making alone. It will also be empowered to make decisions regarding relief and compensation during emergencies such as natural disasters, fires or floods. Through this board, the Government will be able to receive timely advice and cooperation from experienced individuals in the business sector, making policy implementation more practical and beneficial. With a key aim to address the needs of traders and industrialists, the board will focus on policy formation, regulatory challenges, welfare of traders, boosting employment and investment, she added. A dedicated online portal has been developed to manage registration and operations. Under this new board, the BJP Government will also hold Delhis first Global Investment Summit every two years to attract investors and boost economic growth. Delhi Minister for Industries, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, added that this is a long-overdue correction. For years, Delhis business community was left to navigate a maze of departments and delays. With this board, our messaging is clear: traders are not just revenue generators — they are partners in Delhis progress, he said. Expressing gratitude and thanks to Rekha Gupta, BJP MP from Chandni Chowk and prominent traders leader, Praveen Khandelwal termed it a historic decision for traders in Delhi. He stated that this move not only brings a new ray of hope for lakhs of traders in the national capital but also marks a revolutionary step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Empowered Traders — Prosperous India.

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