April Seminar on the APMC Amendment Act
| |
 Mr. Doraiswamy | |
| |
 Seminar leaders |
In April 21st, 2007 a seminar was organized in Bangalore the capital city and IT Hub of Karnataka, which is the fastest developing city in Asia. The present trend in retail business shows that multinational companies and national companies are planning to enter into the retail business, and already Metro Cash & Carry, a Germany-based company, has started business in Bangalore while the national companies like Reliance, Fabmall (Aditya Birla group) Big Bazar, Food Bazar, Food World, Spencer and other hyper malls have opened their stores. The present law is governed by the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) of Karnataka which was constituted by the Government of Karnataka in 1960`s to manage the trade affairs in the local market. APMC is a democratic body elected by the members of traders and farmers. To pave the way for FDI in retail and contract farming in agriculture, the Government of Karnataka is planning to amend the present act by introducing the Model APMC act, which was introduced by the Central government of India.
Seminar on APMC AMENDMENT ACT AND CORPORATE RETAIL: Impact on Agriculture, Retail and Workers, 21st April 2007, SCMI house, Bangalore.
Freedom fighter and noted intellectual of Karnataka Mr. Doraiswamy inaugurated the seminar by launching a signature campaign, symbolically by signing against the APMC amendment act and corporate retail. He opposed the government because it is not considering the realities of the present situation. He further stated that FDI in retail would have adverse effects & consequences on the agriculture sector, retail sector and the related workforces. He also stressed the need for another struggle to ensure the freedom in the agricultural sector, retail and unorganized employment sector.
KRRS Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sanga (Farmers movement of Karnataka) leader Mrs Sunanda Jayaram told, that the amendment in the APMC act would affect the farmers as the act will bring in contract farming and throw the agricultural trading outside the government control, eliminating the small farmers and leading to concentration on the land with a few big companies. She also questioned whether the farmers asked the government for the amendment in the act? Which the government claims is farmer friendly. Without consulting the main stake holders like farmers, traders, workers and other dependent people government should not amend the present act and allow the corporate retail or FDI in retail business. She further added that we should not allow any amendment which would have a negative impact on our livelihood; KRRS will support the present campaign and will be a partner in efforts. Mr. Anandam past president of FKCCI chaired the session and told the gathering that the present government is not considering the traders and treating the traders as nobody, and we are opposing the move of the government. He further stated that united struggle is needed to pressurize the government not to take any steps to amending the act; traders will be part of the struggle and will be active in the process of raising voice against the APMC amendment and corporate retailing.
Mr. G.R. Shivashankar, chair person, TUCC (Trade union coordination committee) told that we know how to do retail business because we are having generations of experience in retail and in agricultural but nowadays Wal-Mart and Reliance is teaching us the business of retail, we oppose this. Our hawkers, small trade retailers, street vendors, and the big traders will lose their livelihood because of the entry of MNC’s and national companies which have targeted our livelihood options. I further call upon the government not to amend the act, which is providing free space to contract farming and FDI in retail.
During the afternoon session Mr. R.V. Gopi the president of Wholesale fruits and vegetable merchants association addressed the gathering. He told that we are very friendly with farmers and we are part of their families but government is projecting us as the villains which is not true, ask any farmer who is having relationships with us he will reveal the realities. We are having cordial and harmonious relationship with the farmer’s community. We are supporting the community in terms of providing small loans and other necessities, because without farmers we don’t have identities, because of them we are doing our business and earning our livelihood.
Mr. C.P. Subbrayashetty president of APMC action committee was also one of the chief guests of the seminar addressed the gathering and told that from past at least from five generations we are involved in this business we know how to do business without the government we are paying taxes regularly and we are also involved in development of the state indirectly, but the politicians and the bureaucracy is running behind the companies to get the kickbacks and giving licenses to the corporate retailers which is harmful to our democracy. Our committee will support the organisations and people who are opposing the present amendment and FDI in retail.
Mr. K.N.Umesh spoke on the occasion on the issues of workers in the garment factories which are supplying the goods to MNC’s and other companies, that all these companies are exploiting the labour laws and not labour friendly. The contract basis work will not give security to workers and the employees; the new agenda of these companies is to hire the workers whenever they need in the name of job training after some time they remove the workers. This uncertainty will increase if more companies entry in our retail. In the name of below MRP prices the companies are projecting themselves as consumer friendly and buying directly from farmers is shown as farmer friendly. But the ultimate goal is to destroy the communities, which are living on agriculture and related trades and become monopolies.
Mr. Muttappa secretary of Garment workers union also addressed the gathering and shared his experiences of Mall’s and departmental stores workers. The metro cash and carry shop is violating the labour laws, not only this company but also all the companies that are supplying different goods and commodities to other companies are same.
During the seminar Mr. Venkatesh and Mr. R.V.Gopi symbolically made signatures on the resolutions against the APMC amendment and corporate retail, through this officially JAC was launched.
Around 100 people were gathered in the seminar, Mr. Babu. S. Khan of FDI Watch Campaign introduced and welcomed the gathering. Mr.Rajendra Prabhakar, Dr. Lakshmipathi were also addressed the gathering. Mr. Wade Rathke of ACORN and Reena Desai from FDI watch have also participated in the seminar.CITU, Unicome, Cassum, PUCL-K, Students Forum of St.Joseph College, Safe-K, Paraspara, Trees, Garment Workers Union, Security Guards Union, APSA, Vegetable & Fruit Merchants Association, FKCCI, Vegetable Commission agents were actively participated in the seminar
No comments:
Post a Comment