CPM urges TN govt to withdraw license rule for rural shops

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has asked the Tamil Nadu government to cancel a new rule that requires small shops in villages to get a trade license.

The rule, called the “Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Rules for Granting Trade Licences – 2025,” says 48 types of trades and 119 service businesses in village areas must now get a license to run.

CPM state secretary P. Shanmugam said this rule will badly affect poor families in villages. He pointed out that many of them depend on small roadside shops, many run by women, to earn a living.

He said the license fees—ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 30,000—are too high for poor shop owners. It could take away their only source of income, he warned.

Shanmugam asked the government to leave out small and micro businesses from the rule. He said only big shops should be made to follow it. The focus should be on helping rural people, not making life harder for them, he added.