The All Assam Traders Association, representing about five lakh small and medium traders, has sought relief from the state’s donation and bandh culture for at least two years post-lockdown to expedite recovery of the economy. It also sought relief from all kinds of taxes and interest on bank loans for two years for all businesses.

Prantush Roy, chief convener of the association, told The Telegraph on Tuesday, “It is a humble request to all organisations to desist from seeking chanda (donation) and calling bandh for at least two years if we want a speedy recovery from the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.”

The bandh and donation culture, deeply entrenched in the state, adversely affects both traders and consumers as the latter have to bear with price hike which traders resort to in order to make up for the losses they suffer because of bandh and donations.

Gauhati High Court had in 2019 declared bandhs and blockades unconstitutional and directed police to lodge FIRs against those calling and enforcing it but this has not dissuaded the bandh culture. The state loses about Rs 6,790 lakh a day on account of a bandh, the government has said in the Assembly.

Roy also urged the government to waive all labour tax, municipal/town committee tax and interest on bank loans for small and medium businesses. “The government is giving some relief to everyone. We too want some relief to survive because we are doing whatever the government has asked us to. The government has asked to pay salary to our employees and we are doing it. But for how long? There is so much uncertainty. We have five lakh members and together we support at least 60 lakh people, employees and family. One can very well imagine the consequences if this section goes down. All of us — the government, traders and organisations — have to join hands to tide over this crisis,” Roy said.

On Monday, traders here had met district administration officials to articulate their concerns. They requested the government to look after their interests and come up with “practical and easy-to-implement guidelines”.