KCCI goes digital; launches smart card for traders

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 25 (EMN): As a key component towards developing and maintaining a comprehensive digital database of the trading community in the state capital, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) today launched smart card IDs for 1300 registered traders under KCCI in Kohima.
Addressing media persons during the launch, KCCI president Jabou Sekhose informed that the digital database would be beneficial for the chamber and the government as well for statistical data and digitalising Kohima to be a ‘smart city’ in addition to other purposes as may be required in future. He also highlighted that the traders’ smart cards, a first in Nagaland, could be used as reference ID by any financial institution.“A contactless Mifare smart card has been used in which each card has an embedded Unique Identity Number (UIN) which is related directly to the registered trader’s account in the digital database. This UIN cannot be replicated and the same will be used to access the registered trader’s account and data as and when required,” stated a KCCI handout.
While demonstrating how user data can be accessed with the smart card, chamber officials informed that the smart card was being printed and issued as an official identity card for KCCI registered traders.
The smart cards are embedded with microchips containing personal identification of trader, authentication, data storage and application processing. While the smart cards were made by Mumbai-based Mifare company, the software for the database was developed by a local youth, it was learnt.
The officials said the cards will have a validity of one year, and upon expiry of the said period, they can be updated in the form of renewal of membership. In the case of damage of cards, it was informed that there are three aspects where trader data could be accessed – through the microchip or barcode on the card or member (trader) code.
Consumers with serious cases can lodge complaint(s) against a trader with the KCCI by demanding the member code on the smart card and providing the same to the chamber, Sekhose said. He added that this exercise is also expected to eradicate many problems, including locating or accessing information of loan defaulters amongst the trading community.
One of the KCCI officials pointed out that initially, some traders were very negative towards the exercise, however, they are optimistic that gradually the positive aspects will get noticed and all the members of the business community will be more forthcoming.
“If this exercise is successful, other chambers can also replicate it,” said another official. She also mentioned that the exercise has enabled the chamber to identify the real traders, as in many establishments, business is not run personally by the registered trader (proprietor).
The KCCI has more than 3200 registered traders under it and in the first phase, 1300 smart cards will be rolled out from today. The chamber officials have requested all its registered members to enrol for smart card. The traders who are yet to get registered under KCCI have been informed that they could avail membership and smart card on a fee of Rs.600 (Rs.300 for membership and Rs.300 for smart card ID).
On the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Centre, chamber officials informed that a meeting is scheduled to be held on April 29 with the government/taxes department, and only after that, some light will be shed on the matter.
In regard to the avid promotion by the government of India for cashless transactions, Sekhose said the KCCI is also asking its traders to go digital as far as possible by installing (point-of-sale) POS machines in their business establishments.