The trader strike comes in wake of the Walmart-Flipkart online deal.
On Friday, grocery stores as well as chemists shall remain shut to protest irreversible losses they suffer at the hands of online retailers.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) called for a nationwide shut-down on September 28, which co-incidentally, was the day picked by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to call for a bandh.
All private medical and pharmaceutical shops, including those at tertiary-level hospitals, are expected to remain closed throughout the country. CAIT's state chapters have also pledged total support to the bandh called to protest the Union Cabinet approval to 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector. The trader strike comes in wake of the Walmart-Flipkart online deal. All CAIT units in states have been directed to submit signed memorandum of their demands to prime minister Narendra Modi's office.
Harshad Giletwala, vice-president of (CAIT) Gujarat, said that over 200 associations in Ahmedabad have pledged support. The bandh is likely to affect Rs 250 to Rs 300 crore worth of wholesale business in Ahmedabad alone. "Around 3,000 wholesale shops in Ahmedabad will remain shut," said Jayendra Tanna, president of the Gujarat Traders Federation.
Trade organisations in Rajasthan are also on board. "Due to online retailers, traditional businesses have shrunk by 50 per cent," says Suresh Saini, president of Jaipur unit of All Rajasthan Dukaandar Mahasangh.
Mumbai remains the exception, Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, said 3.5 lakh members in Greater Mumbai will not down shutters on Friday. "However, the Association is strongly against unfair trade practices and predatory pricing adopted by MNCs, he said.
Pain For Patients, Kin
"A total of 8.5 lakh chemists will shut their shops around the nation," said JS Shinde, president of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). "All our Delhi pharmacists, around 6,000 of them, will protest at Jantar Mantar between 11 pm and 3 pm following which they will march towards the Ministry of Health to register their protest."
Barring government hospitals and stores operating under government-funded welfare schemes, most private chemists and drug chains shall remain closed.
In Jaipur, even the chemists serving patients of the largest hospital, the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, have decided to remain shut. "About 40 private pharmaceutical shops around the hospital have extended their support.
Inconvenience of patients is regretted, yet the protest is a result of government policies and in larger interest of public health," says Ajay Agarwal, spokesperson of Rajasthan chemist association. Across the state, 45,000 shops shall be closed.
Chairman of the Federation of Gujarat State Druggist and Chemist Association, Jaswant Patel, said, "Only stores within hospitals will be operational to cater to emergency situations."
He said even the medical representatives of pharma companies have joined in. "They too will be on strike tomorrow," said Patel. The pharmacy business is worth around 1.30 lakh crore, and Gujarat has an around 10 per cent share of the pie.
Trick Of The Trade
- Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) is protesting the Cabinet’s approval to 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector. Strike comes in wake of the Walmart-Flipkart online deal.
- The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has called for the bandh to protest irreversible losses they suffer at the hands of online retailers, and the discounts they offer.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "protest")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}