Licenses through K-Smart troubling small traders; time limit for license renewal extended by three months

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has been alleged that the conditions for renewal of license through K-Smart are weighing on small traders. The government has extended the time limit for license renewal by three months. Minister MB Rajesh informed that if there are any factual issues within it, they will be resolved. The deadline for renewing the licenses was till tomorrow.

In the past, the license could be renewed if there was an identity card and a copy of the shop's possession. With the advent of K-Smart, things such as tax receipt of the building, proof of installation of a sewage treatment system in the building and proof of having a toilet have become mandatory. Traders are objecting to such conditions for renewal of the license of even a regular shop.

The provision of paying building tax is not practical to traders operating on rent. Many commercial complexes have tax arrears. They are asking why the traders should pay the tax on this. They point out that the provision of a toilet in single-room shops is not practical everywhere.

Minister MB Rajesh says that tax arrears on buildings are causing a huge financial drain on local bodies. A compromise is under consideration for toilets. The minister clarified that the provision of waste treatment will not be withdrawn.

K-smart shows that some streets are not open for the license renewal process while trying to renew the license. Even after pointing out the problem, the local body authorities are not relenting. Traders want the government to allow manual renewal of licenses in these places.

The minister informed that it is a technical problem due to the non-completion of digitization processes in local bodies and it will be resolved soon.

There are 36 lakh business establishments in the state. Out of that, eight lakh establishments are yet to be digitized. Traders have approached the High Court seeking relaxation of the unworkable terms.