New Delhi: Former Union minister Smriti Irani has taken on a new role as an advisor to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Praveen Khandelwal, the Lok Sabha MP from Delhi and secretary general of CAIT, announced this development on social media.
“Honored to welcome @smritiirani Ji as an advisor to @CAITIndia. Her insights will be invaluable as we continue to work towards empowering traders and fostering community growth. Grateful for the opportunity to introduce her at our ‘Swar and Sangeet’ event yesterday at the Oberoi Hotel, Delhi,” Khandelwal tweeted.
Significance of the Move
Khandelwal termed the appointment as a significant step forward for CAIT, expressing excitement about the positive impact Irani’s guidance will bring to the community and its initiatives. He noted that Irani would assist the trading community in upgrading and modernizing their existing business formats. She will also help ensure that small businesses contribute to nation-building and align with PM Modi’s vision of “Make in India.”
Role and Contributions
According to a CAIT functionary, Irani will provide guidance and mentorship to the organization. Established in 1990, CAIT aims to consolidate and protect the interests of the trading community in India, which, although self-organized, is classified as unorganized. CAIT has a network of 40,000 trade associations and approximately eight crore traders.
Political Background
Smriti Irani, a prominent figure in Indian politics and an actor-turned-politician, recently lost her Lok Sabha seat. Despite her notable victory over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, she was defeated by Congress leader K.L. Sharma in the recent elections by a margin of 1,67,196 votes. The BJP retained power for a third term, albeit without a parliamentary majority.
Future Plans
Sources indicate that CAIT is planning significant outreach programs across the country in the coming months. Irani’s rich experience in women empowerment and entrepreneurship is expected to be beneficial for these expansion efforts. The traders’ body, known for its close ties to the BJP, endorsed the BJP and NDA allies in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and Khandelwal was also fielded by the BJP in these polls.
Smriti Irani’s new role with CAIT signifies her continued involvement in shaping India’s business landscape, particularly in empowering small traders and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.
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