Indore: Protesting the Centre’s move to strictly implement Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, sweets and namkeen traders will observe strike. Many other trading associations have decided to join the strike.
Over 6000 traders affiliated to Namkeen and Mithai Vikreta Kalayan Maha Sangh are actively engaged these days to ensure success of their strike call.
Sangh president Ramprasad Sharma says the association does respect Indian laws but the new rules would cause harassment to the small traders.
General Secretary Vikas Jain and convener Suresh Agrawal echo the president’s fear.
This “draconian Act” will only facilitate the big companies whereas small companies would find it very difficult to abide by all the provisions stipulated under this Act, they say.
Under the new norms, traders will have to determine and print nutritional value of every product. The association feels small traders will find it difficult to comply with. They fear return of inspector-raj through this rule.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has laid down science-based standards for food items and regulate their manufacturer, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The act aims to ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may mislead or harm the consumer.
Food is the biggest industry in the country as it provides direct and indirect employment to lakhs of people. If the government implements this act, it will not only render a majority of small traders jobless but will also lead to decline in revenue generation for the government.
The grocery traders owing affiliation to various trade bodies such as Marothia, Siyaganj, Malharganj, Sindhi Colony, Tilak Nagar, Malwa mill, Patnipura, Pardeshipura, Sukhalia etc have extended support to the strike and would remain off work from April 9 to 11.
This could well result in odd shops taking advantage of the situation and selling stuff to customers at high rate. The poor who do not stock such items could be in for serious trouble. Ramesh Khandelwal said the three- day strike could result in the loss of Rs 1500 to 2,000 crore in the city.
He has claimed support of around two dozen trade bodies to the stir.
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