Members of Federation of West Bengal Trade Association (FWBTA), the apex body representing small traders and hawkers in West Bengal, will observe ‘black day’ on October 10, when German wholesale retailer Metro Cash & Cash will receive its Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) licence to start operations at its outlet on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata.
According to a press release issued by Mahesh Singhania, chairman of FWBTA, October 10 will be the “worst day for West Bengal’s small and medium traders.”
Left Front constituent Forward Bloc (FB), which runs West Bengal’s agriculture marketing board, and CPI(M) leaders, will renew Metro Cash & Carry’s APMC licence on October 10. However, the State Agriculture Marketing Board will impose certain conditions on Metro in order to protect the small traders in the city, which will be formally announced on October 10.
“It is a matter of deep regret that inspite of Federation’s best efforts, the Left Front government has not realised the disastrous blunder it will make if it gave Metro Cash & Carry or any other foreign or Indian corporates the licence to trade in the state. The licence will enable them to start front and back-door retail business which will hurt the small and medium traders in the long run,” Singhania said.
“It is very sad that the state government has not realised that Metro is here to export the local produce, create shortage, push price rise, as well as cause unemployment in the state. APMC licence may restrict only the agricultural produce but does not include products like non-agricultural FMCG, home appliances, daily consumables, electronics, etc,” Singhania added.
FWBTA pointed out in the release that it is determined to continue resistance, agitation and opposition to organised retail.
“The government must realise and rectify its stand on organised retail in the state in order to save Bengal’s traders, consumers’ future as well as state’s revenues,” Singhania added.
FWBTA had earlier supported the move by Forward Bloc to stop the growth of organised retail in West Bengal, Indian or foreign, claiming that entry of large retailers would hurt the smaller traders’ business as the large retailers directly buy from farmers.
"These companies have to stop buying directly from the farmers and instead procure from the local market. There are thousands of middlemen who are employed in the supply chain. Entry of big retailers will simply destroy the chain and make us lose our livelihood," Singhania had said.
