KERALA VYAPARI VYAVASAYI EKOPANA SAMITHY,(KVVES), the only organisation in the state of Kerala which represents vast majority of small and medium level traders in the state, took its existence in the year 1981following a fifty seven day continuous strike in Ariyangady( Rice Market), Thrissur. The founder President was C.M.George and the General Secretary M.O.John and the treasurer K.G.George. The organisation presently has nearly 4000 units scattered in almost all the towns in the state and plays a major role in socio-economic and cultural development of these towns and the state at large. Committed to the cause of the trading community, the organisation has played key role in amending various central and state government enactments which were harmful to the trading community. The organisation was instrumental in formulating Vyapari Kshema Nidhi (Traders Welfare Board- a welfare fund formulated by the Government of Kerala for the welfare of the traders in the state) in the year 1992, to provide death claim to members of the Welfare Board and pension to senior traders. The organisation is said to be the first of its kind in history to bring together all the small and medium entrepreneurs together on a common platform to raise their common issues before the authorities concerned.