‘No Govt can afford to neglect traders’

Seen are Union Minister Kapil Sibal, CAIT National President B C Bhartia and others.

The National Summit of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT at New Delhi ended with a firm resolve to convert the trading community across the country in to a vote bank and to play a major role in forthcoming elections to Parliament in the current year. Trade leaders from about 1,500 associations all over the country attended the Convention which was presided by CAIT National President B C Bhartia. CAIT will undertake a massive nation-wide campaign among 6 crore traders of the country for conversion the community into a vote bank and will shortly announce its ‘Delhi Declaration.’ 

Taking part in the deliberations of the convention senior Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal termed the trading community as a spinal cord of Indian economy and strongly advocated the need of a National Trade Policy for retail trade of India. He also underlines the need of creation of Trade Board in Centre and states with representative from trade and civil society. 

Sibal accepted the truth that at Government-level policies are framed at the table whereas implementation is being done at ground-level and due to lack of synergy between policy and ground realties, it often leads to major discontent. He said that the traders need to be taken into confidence before formulating any policy for trading community. 

A continued dialogue between traders and the Government is necessary in larger interest of development of economy. “No Government can afford to neglect the traders,” he asserted. 

Sibal strongly advocating upgradation and modernisation of retail trade and unequivocally said that before implementation of any policy, the infrastructure, power, simplified and hassle-free system free from corruption should be made available to traders by the Government. 

He also said that an alternate financial mechanism needs to be made available to traders for easy finance to traders at reasonable rate of interest. He advised traders to form a ‘Traders Communication Forum’ through which the traders should circulate their issues and problems through media as well besides approaching the Government. 

Sibal assured traders that the controversial Food Safety and Standards Act would be re-looked and traders safety first food safety afterwards would be the motto. 

EoI for Baseline Survey & Mapping of Food Business

Terms of Reference for Baseline Survey & Mapping of Food Business units in Karnataka State under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006

The Government of India with an objective to ensure ‘Safe Food’ in and across the country has revised, reviewed and upgraded the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and Rules 1955 to Food Safety & Standards Act 2006. Under this Food Safety Standard Authority of India has been established as the National Statutory Body for laying down science based standards for articles of food and regulating manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import of food so as to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Government of Karnataka (GOK) through Government of India has received a Credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Credit to payments under the contract for hiring of Baseline Survey & Mapping of Food Business units in Karnataka State under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 KHSDRP, GoK.

The scope of the services would include the following activities which will be taken by the consultant:

1. Develop the questionnaire and submit to Food Safety Commissioner for approval. After approval, field test the questionnaire. Report the field test to the Commissioner. Review, revise the questionnaire and after approval, use for Baseline Survey. 

2. To identify and locate all the Food establishments however big or small manufacturing, storing, distributing or selling the smallest or the largest quantity of the food or its appendages in Mahanagara Palikes. 

3. To categorize and classify the Food Business units. 

4. To identify and document the levels of Food Safety norms to which the Food Business units adhere. 

5. To locate the food business units on the map, GIS mapping. 

6. To motivate the identified food business units to register or apply for license 

7. And any other related activity detailed in the ToR. 

The Project Administrator, KHSDRP now invites agencies fulfilling the following criteria to apply with necessary documents; 

1. Significant track record of having successfully done surveys in the past 10 years. 

2. A minimum annual turnover of Rs. 2 crore in any one year during the last 3 years. 

3. Should be a registered entity under Trust Act/Society Act/Company Act/LLP Act. 

Interested Consultants must provide the complete information justifying that they are qualified to perform the Services: This may include brochures, description of similar assignments performed, and details of experience in relevant field and availability of skills among staff, financial details such as annual financial turnover during 3 years with relevant details, etc.

Agency will be selected in accordance with Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) procedures set out in the World Bank’s “Guidelines: Selection and employment of consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA credits and grants by World Bank Borrowers - January 2011.” The guidelines are available at www.worldbank.org/procure.

Interested Agencies may obtain further information by contacting KHSDRP through Telephone: 080-22210248 / Mobile No: 9449843404. Terms of Reference for the assignment are available in the web www.karhfw.gov.in/KHSDRP.

The firms shall upload their Expression of Interest for Baseline Survey & Mapping of Food Business units in Karnataka State under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 along with all the supporting information as stated in para 4 on or before 11.03.2014 of 1700 hrs in e-portal only i.e. www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in.

Dead Line: 11.03.2014 of 1700 hrs

Contact Details:

Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project

1st Floor, Public Health Institute Building, 

Sheshadri Road, Bangalore 560001 

Ph: 080-22246024 

Fax: 080-22277389, 

E-mail: pakhsdrp@gmail.com/ddsicfkhsdrp@gmail.com