While inaugurating a convention of CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation, a women wing of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) at Jaipur, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mrs.Sushma Swaraj strongly advocated to bring women entrepreneurs in main stream of economy and said that if appropriate policies are made to encourage women entrepreneurs, they could be one of the strongest pillars of Indian economy. Smt. Swaraj further said that traders are the integral part of the economy as they are the vital link between producer and consumer and no system can replace this self organised supply chain in the Country but there is a need to protect this chain from various onslaughts.
Smt. Swaraj said that in a rapidly changing business and economic scenario, the percentage of women entrepreneurs in the Country is registering phenomenal growth every year but unfortunately there is no organisation at national level to take care of their interests and problems and therefore voice of such section remain unheard. She hoped that the CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation shall make all endeavor to represent effectively such women entrepreneurs in the Country. She said that beside looking after economic and trading issues, the organisation should also focus on social evils which are ruining the Country.She advised that a special strategy should be evolved to put more focus on women entrepreneurs of small towns and rural areas as they constitute a large part of women entrepreneurs in India.She called for launching of a national movement for women empowerment.
Smt. Swaraj strongly opposed FDI in retail and said that if FDI is brought in this sector it will pose a great danger to the livelihood of crores of people in the Country. The retail sector does not need any technology but there is a great need to bring reforms in government policies enabling the traders to conduct business smoothly in the Country. She asked the CAIT to conduct a thorough research on core issues of retail sector through its research wing and a report may be prepared to muster political support.Prior to this, Mrs.Swaraj administered oath to national team of CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation and state team of CAIT Rajasthan Chapter.