Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was honoured at a grand felicitation ceremony held at the PSG Convention Centre in Neelambur, Coimbatore, for her leadership in implementing GST 2.0 reforms and introducing tax reduction measures aimed at supporting traders and small businesses.
The event was organised by the Tamil Nadu Federation of Traders Associations (TANFED) under the leadership of Federation President Vikram Raja, and attended by more than 1,000 traders and representatives from across the state.
The gathering applauded Sitharaman’s initiatives to streamline the GST system and ease compliance challenges for the business community.
During the function, trader representatives thanked the Finance Minister for restructuring GST into two primary tax slabs, calling it a move that has simplified the tax regime and boosted trade momentum, particularly during the festive season.
They also presented a 33-point memorandum containing key demands — including the merger of the two-tier GST structure into a single rate, introduction of a pension scheme for small traders similar to the farmers’ pension plan, and simplification of tax registration and penalty procedures.
In her address, Sitharaman credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the government’s reform-oriented approach, stating that between September and October, public spending in the country crossed Rs 6 lakh crore, directly benefitting the trading sector.
She emphasised that the recent GST rate reductions have enhanced consumer purchasing power, increased traders’ income, and accelerated industrial growth, leading to more employment opportunities.
“The automobile, insurance, and consumer electronics sectors — including television and air-conditioner sales — have shown remarkable growth due to the tax cuts,” she noted.
The Finance Minister assured that the Union Government is working continuously to further simplify GST registration and income tax filing processes to make them more user-friendly and transparent.
Earlier in the day, Sitharaman attended a BJP zonal leaders’ consultative meeting at Muthalipalayam, where she interacted with party functionaries and discussed regional economic development and organisational strategies.
