National Traders' Welfare Board pushes ONDC adoption among small traders
Bhubaneswar, June 28
National Traders' Welfare Board Chairperson Sunil J Singhi on Sunday urged small traders to join the Open Network for Digital Commerce, saying the government-backed platform can help businesses participate more effectively in the country's growing digital economy.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Utkarsh 2026 Business Summit in Odisha, Singhi said the Board is also working to improve grievance redressal for traders and has proposed setting up a state-level traders' welfare board in Odisha.
"We have also appealed for the meaning and benefits of ONDC and to be connected with it," Singhi said, highlighting the government's efforts to bring more small businesses onto digital commerce platforms.
He said the National Traders' Welfare Board has been holding regular virtual interactions with traders across the country to address their concerns.
"Through the National Traders Welfare Board... on every Monday... the smallest traders, to solve their problems... can connect to the VC link," he said.
Singhi also said he has discussed with Odisha Chief Minister the need to establish a state-level traders' welfare board in the state to strengthen institutional support for the trading community.
"I have also talked to the Chief Minister of Odisha about making a state board here. And a district committee will be formed, through which every month there will be such a meeting under the Collector, through which there will be convenience and stability in business," he said.
According to Singhi, the National Traders' Welfare Board was created by the Government of India to address issues faced by traders, including regulatory compliance and other business-related concerns.
He also referred to recent government measures aimed at supporting the MSME sector, including changes in the MSME definition and an increase in the credit guarantee limit.
"The definition of MSME has been changed, the credit limit has been changed from 5 crores to 10 crores," Singhi said while outlining the government's initiatives for traders and small businesses.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some real focus on traders! The MSME credit limit increase is a big relief. I know a small textile shop in Surat that couldn't get a loan beyond 5 crore even though they needed it for expansion. This will help many families in the unorganized sector. But please, more awareness programs in local languages across Odisha.
Good step, but I am skeptical about ONDC's real benefit for small traders in tier-3 towns. The platform is still dominated by big players and the tech infrastructure is weak in many parts of Odisha. Also, weekly VC meetings are nice but who will actually train the traders? Paper push hai, implementation nahi. 🤔
Great to see Odisha getting attention! My father runs a small grocery shop in Bhubaneswar and he's been skeptical about online platforms due to commission charges. If ONDC is truly zero-commission as promised, then this could be a game-changer for crores of small traders across India. Let's hope the implementation matches the vision! 💪🇮🇳
While I appreciate the efforts, one has to question whether the National Traders' Welfare Board has actually solved any major issue on the ground. The Monday VC meetings sound good on paper but many small traders in rural Odisha don't even have stable internet. Also, state-level boards should have real powers, not just be advisory bodies. A bit more accountability, please.
Bhai log, ONDC is the future! We need to think beyond just next month's profit
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