Telangana has firmed up its Retail Trade Policy that intends to promote the sector and boost its position as an ideal destination.
Its objective is to create more employment for the youth and ease up several issues to make operations for retail players comfortable, said Arvind Kumar, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce and Energy.
Highlights of the Policy, yet to be approved, include:
Women employees in the retail sector will be permitted to work beyond 10 pm, after taking care of all safety precautions at par with the service sector.
Retail enterprises will also be been given the option of self certification and filing of consolidated annual returns under various acts administered by the labour department.
The details of the draft policy were deliberated at a meeting with the Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Friday.
Incidentally, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao had announced the government would come up with a firm policy, in January 2015.
The meeting had agreed in principle for establishing retail entertainment zones, including kids’ entertainment zones, setting up world class warehouses on public private partnership basis, and to recognise distribution centres at par with the service industry.
It was decided that retail enterprises can self-certify, based on existing regulations for fixing sky sign in and out of the premises of the retail stores, subject to payment of requisite fees as applicable.
Creation of employment opportunities, promoting grass root and SME entrepreneurship, empowerment of women and farmers, creating demand and support industries manufacturing ‘Made in India’ commodities, etc, would be encouraged.
Neighbouring States of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh already have their own retail trade policies.
Telangana, especially Hyderabad, has attracted global brands like Walmart, IKEA and major domestic players including Reliance Retail, Bharti Retail, ABP, Big Bazaar, etc, and is a preferred destination.