Commodities traders strike in Rajasthan

Commodities trading of over Rs 25 crore was affected as over 37,000 traders and commission agents went on a day's strike today against the Rajasthan government's agricultural policies.

"According to our estimates, business of over Rs 25 crore was affected because all the traders and commission agents in 247 mandis remained on strike," said the general secretary, Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vypar Sangh, Babulal Gupta.

The Sangh, a body of traders and commission agents, has been protesting against the state government's move to liberalise trade for retail companies.

"The state cabinet's recent decision to permit single licence, instead of multiple ones, is aimed at helping big corporate houses. They, with their resources, can swamp the markets and traders like us," Gupta said.

So far, the usual practice has been to seek separate licences to do business in districts but with this recent decision a single licence is good enough to do business anywhere in the state, according to him.

He said traders in Rajasthan had been protesting for months at the government's decision on allowing contract farming and direct marketing. Till now they had not been able to get a favourable response from the state government, he alleged.

"We will continue our agitation and decide on future course of action in a few days," Gupta said.