INDORE: After jewellers, it is now the turn of hotels, restaurants and groceries in the state to go on strike. The MP Food Manuifacturers and Retailers' Association will launch a three-day state wide strike from Monday to protest against the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Act, 2006 that came into effect from August last year.
The Act that is being termed 'draconian' by the association will affect about 8400 traders in Indore and 60,000 across the state.
The Food Safety Administration (FSA) has already issued advisory to all the traders to comply with the norms. Negligence or violation of the provisions of the Act could land a trader six months imprisonment and/or Rs five lakh fine.
The Act makes it mandatory for traders to appoint a consultant, qualified not less than BSc, to monitor their activities and certify that their establishments were abiding by the norms as set by the Act.
There are more than 45 various associations of traders that are participating in the strike. Besides, they claim to have participation of malls and retailer chains too, including Reliance Fresh, Big Bazar and Easy Day. Even milkfood retailers and pan masala vendors have also joined the move.
Talking to ToI, Vikas Jain, general secretary, MP Food Products Manufacturers & Sellers' Association, said "We will march to the Parliament on April 24 if the government fails to act on our demands".
Jain claimed that the strike was getting active support from their counterparts in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. "We are already in touch with them", he added.
Rajkumar Gupta of Prakash Namkeen, said that on a daily basis, we sell salted food items to the tune of 10-20 tons in Indore alone with a daily turnover of Rs 10 crore. This would be affected by the strike.
While the chemists are also with us, they have promised to keep their shutters down for a day keeping in view the urgency of the need of life saving drugs, said Gupta.
Hotels in the city are learnt to have stopped fresh bookings of guests for the next three days. Only those who had booked for advanced stay will be able to stay in the hotels, said a source.
The MP Food and Manufacturers & Retailers Association held a meeting at Gandhi Auditorium in Indore on Saturday evening in which several traders took part by staging slogans against the Act and spotting a black ribbon on their arms in protest against the law.
Meanwhile, a heavy rush was seen at the grocery shops as people have started stocking provisions.
Milk vendors also join
Milk and food retailers too have also joined the bandwagon by joining the strike. Ashish Patodi, executive member of Indore Milk Sellers' Federation, said that on an average a milk vendor is able to sell milk products to the tune of 100-200 litre per day. So, it is impossible for them to abide by the norms which requires them to produce safety certificate every now and then to the competent authorities. Again, it is quite difficult for us to appoint a consultant, who will be a science graduate and who will provide us certificate for the product. Tell me who will be ready to do such job after getting qualified? he asked.
The Act that is being termed 'draconian' by the association will affect about 8400 traders in Indore and 60,000 across the state.
The Food Safety Administration (FSA) has already issued advisory to all the traders to comply with the norms. Negligence or violation of the provisions of the Act could land a trader six months imprisonment and/or Rs five lakh fine.
The Act makes it mandatory for traders to appoint a consultant, qualified not less than BSc, to monitor their activities and certify that their establishments were abiding by the norms as set by the Act.
There are more than 45 various associations of traders that are participating in the strike. Besides, they claim to have participation of malls and retailer chains too, including Reliance Fresh, Big Bazar and Easy Day. Even milkfood retailers and pan masala vendors have also joined the move.
Talking to ToI, Vikas Jain, general secretary, MP Food Products Manufacturers & Sellers' Association, said "We will march to the Parliament on April 24 if the government fails to act on our demands".
Jain claimed that the strike was getting active support from their counterparts in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. "We are already in touch with them", he added.
Rajkumar Gupta of Prakash Namkeen, said that on a daily basis, we sell salted food items to the tune of 10-20 tons in Indore alone with a daily turnover of Rs 10 crore. This would be affected by the strike.
While the chemists are also with us, they have promised to keep their shutters down for a day keeping in view the urgency of the need of life saving drugs, said Gupta.
Hotels in the city are learnt to have stopped fresh bookings of guests for the next three days. Only those who had booked for advanced stay will be able to stay in the hotels, said a source.
The MP Food and Manufacturers & Retailers Association held a meeting at Gandhi Auditorium in Indore on Saturday evening in which several traders took part by staging slogans against the Act and spotting a black ribbon on their arms in protest against the law.
Meanwhile, a heavy rush was seen at the grocery shops as people have started stocking provisions.
Milk vendors also join
Milk and food retailers too have also joined the bandwagon by joining the strike. Ashish Patodi, executive member of Indore Milk Sellers' Federation, said that on an average a milk vendor is able to sell milk products to the tune of 100-200 litre per day. So, it is impossible for them to abide by the norms which requires them to produce safety certificate every now and then to the competent authorities. Again, it is quite difficult for us to appoint a consultant, who will be a science graduate and who will provide us certificate for the product. Tell me who will be ready to do such job after getting qualified? he asked.
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