retail upgrade

rasta kholo
open the road
don´t close

By Kulamarva Balakrishna

Vienna,Saturday,February 23,2008: As I write this
in New Bombay retail traders of agricultural products
and related service personnel would be holding a car
rally against handing over the trade into the hands of big
companies including multinationals.I understand their
concern.I also understand their needs to keep in
step with changing times to update themselves and
their future generations.

I think, the protesters should find solutions with the
help of experts like Dr.Ila Bhat, the founder of SEWA
(Self Employed Women´s Welfare Association).
It is high time retail trade is organized.The Planning
Commission would welcome this. What is needed then
is big companies should accept retail traders as share
holding partners.They should give them infrastructure
like toilet facilities, uniforms, on site banking etc leaving
the marketing undisturbed in the retail traders themselves.
They can be provided with clean stands or shops,solar
powered hawkers´ carts, etc.Tata-BP Solar has the know
how and where withal.With the co-operation as in nano
car the agricultural produce sellers could be upgraded
without losing their jobs.

It is the United Progressive Alliance government´s
policy to ask the huge companies like Tatas, Ambanis,
Bajajs etc reserve jobs to the socially weaker class.
Here is then the opportunity to implement it.They
would be future enterprenuers.Prof. Amartya Sen
would certainly consider such development
positive.Thus Vyapar Rozgar Suraksha Kriti Samiti
should approach the planning commission, and political
representatives like Margaret Alva, I give her name
because she is concerned with Maharashtra,to take the
issue at decision making level to implement the
proclaimed policy of reserving jobs to the under
privileged by upgrading their self management skills.
It will work India wide to sooth the hardship of
farmers as well.

Their rally should be demanding
their inclusion as partners in the scheme.

The rally they should hold to create public awareness.
But it would have been better for them involve people
like Dr.Ila Bhat.So their efforts would be successful.They
would get response from the decision makers, who
would only be happy involve their representatives in
counsultation on how to implement, the scheme.World
wide super markets or malls give an umbrella shelter
with share plots, infrastructure, and services like
cleanliness etc. in the daily in take would get a share,
or charge a monthly rent.

As for the hawkers, they need better powered wheelers.
I know for the last ten years Tata BP-Solar make them.
They should be harnessed India wide so households
can buy their daily needs hygienic and safe.With updated
facilities even mathadi carts would benefit.If these vegetable
vendors can participate in car and motor cycle rallies
they would be certainly in a position to partner with
larger companies, in a manner technology eventually
transferred to them by seepage as in screen printing.

I am sure Mr.Mohan Gurnani, President of the
Federation of Associations of Maharashtra is capable
of linking up with other federations in other states
to make an India wide movement.He should know
=Rasta roko= (close the road) is not the
way but Rasta kholo (open the road)
is the way to progress.
Mr.Vinod Shetty of FDI watch should welcome
opportunities to work in co-operation with the
firms, that is the way to create qualitatively
better employment for all Indians. (end)