NEW DELHI/JAIPUR: There is more bad news for foreign supermarket chains looking to set up shop in India with Rajasthan joining Delhi in reversing its earlier decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading.Analysts said that the move will further impact investor sentiment as it does away with stability in policy. Foreign retailers have cited the lack of unanimity among political parties as one of the key reasons to adopt a wait and watch stance before committing to investing in the country.
So far, Tesco, which has tied up with Tata Group’s Trent, is the only company to have received government go-ahead for multi-brand retail even as others such as Walmart and Carrefour have preferred to wait on the sidelines. Tesco intends to start operations in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The newly elected BJP government in Rajasthan has communicated its decision against allowing FDI in multi brand retail to the Union commerce and industry ministry, two government officials told ToI.
Principal secretary Veenu Gupta, managing director of RIICO and in charge of the state Bureau of Investment Promotion as commissioner, confirmed that the letter was sent to the ministry on January 25. BJP has been opposed to the policy with states ruled by it, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, deciding against allowing FDI in multi-brand.
Hawkers march to parliament
Hawkers Joint Action Committee is organizing a sit in protest and march to Parliament on 5th February at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi demanding Indian Govt. reversal of FDI retail policy and the passage of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012 from the upper house of the parliament. The lower house has already passed the bill on 6th September, 2013. The bill provides for protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors and regulation of urban street vending.
Delhi became the first Indian state to reverse the policy of allowing FDI in multibrand retail. The newly formed Delhi govt. of Aam Admi Party (AAP) has written to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) asking it to remove Delhi from the list of states which have conveyed their agreement to the policy of FDI in multibrand retail.
France based Carrefour and Germany based Metro are already operating
cash & carry wholesale stores in Delhi. Rajasthan, another major state of India is likely to follow the suit.
In another development, more than one thousand hawkers representatives
from various street markets of Delhi participated in a hawkers public
hearing organized by Hawkers Joint Action Committee on 6th January in Delhi.
In the public hearing Delhi hawkers passed resolution against FDI in
multibrand retail and decided to meet newly formed Delhi Govt. to
reverse the policy decision to allow FDI retailers in Delhi.
Govt. of India has floated a discussion paper on FDI in e-commerce. Paper on e-commerce
One can submit comment by 30th January 2014. Comments can be sent to Mr. Ishtiyaque Ahmed, Director, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi and his email is ahmed.i@nic.in.
Mallamall,which literally translated means “bountiful goods,” offers a fascinating look at the struggle playing out on the battlefield of global capitalism. India is in the throes of a retail revolution as a burgeoning middle class looks for more Western goods and services. Modern malls have arrived to meet the demand, radically shifting the shopping culture and threatening the livelihood of traditional merchants. The landscape of retail is transforming from vibrant open-air markets with jewel-colored saris, aromatic spices, and feisty personalities to homogeneous, clean, and meticulously branded chain stores. One set of Indians is jumping on the modern mall bandwagon, enjoying new luxuries and heading up local efforts to further international investment. Another set vehemently protests the forces of globalization, fighting for the rights of thousands of bazaar owners and small farmers, as well as for a centuries-old way of life
Forum of Informal Urban poor Workers (FIUPW) and PRIA jointly organized a workers assembly on 10th Oct at Constitution Club, Delhi. A workers manifesto was presented to all political parties keeping in view the forthcoming elections in Delhi.
Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and leader of Aam Admi Party, Mr. Dhirendra Sharma, State Secretary, CPI, Mr. Anand Sahu, leader, BJP and Mr. Anurag Saxena, Secretariat Member, CPM attended the assembly and responded to the workers manifesto. Dharmendra Kumar chaired the session.
Panel Discussion organized by the Global Studio, PRIA, School of Planning and Architecture on 4th Oct to Launch the Touring Exhibition on Inclusive Cities.
People Building Better Cities: Participation and Inclusive Urbanization – is an exhibition and exchange platform for communities, urban professionals, universities, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers on the challenges of inclusive urbanization and climate change.
In Delhi, the exhibition will be shown in English and Hindi from October 4 – 18, 2013. The English exhibition will open at School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), with a panel discussion themed “Rethinking Urban Informality: Ideas for an Inclusive City”. The Hindi exhibition will be mobile and is being hosted in six different locations across Delhi by members of the Forum of Informal Urban Poor Workers (FIUPW) with community-led local programs at each venue.
October 4, Friday: EXHIBITION OPENING in English
School of Planning & Architecture
SPA, New Committee Room, 4-Block-B, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi
9:30-10:00 Doors open 10:00-10:30 Exhibition opening & interactive walkthrough 10:30-11:00 Tea Break 11:00-13:00 Panel Discussion with Q&A ‘People Building Better Cities: Rethinking Urban Informality – Ideas for an Inclusive City’ 13:00 onwards Lunch and exhibition display
Moderator
Prof. Chetan Vaidya, Director, SPA
Panelists
Prof. Neelima Risbud, Head, Housing, SPA
Prof. Jagan Shah, Director, NIUA (TBC)
Mr. Manoj Rai, Director, PRIA
Mr. Dharmendra Kumar, Secretary, Janpahal (TBC)
Ms. Isabelle-Jasmin Roth, Managing Director, Avantgarde India (TBC)
___________________________________________________________________ TRAVELING EXHIBITION in Hindi
The Hindi exhibition will remain open from 11:00 to 17:00 at the dates and locations provided below
October 7, Monday and 8, Tuesday Janpahal Shelter for Homelesswith Janpahal and India FDI Watch
Directions: Nehru Enclave-Akshardham Flyover, Shakarpur. Nearest metros – Akshardham, Laxmi Nagar and Yamuna Bank Inquiries: Mr. Dharmendra Kumar, Secretary, Janpahal & Director, India FDI Watch dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk , janpahal@gmail.com
‘COMMUNITY ADDAS’
A series of themed chat sessions at each venue, with local stakeholders and community members will be held between 11:00 – 13:00, on the following dates. Refreshments will be arranged by the hosting community.
October 8, Tuesday
‘Urban informality and the homeless’
Chair
Mr. Dharmendra Kumar, Secretary, Janpahal
Key Speakers
Dr. Amod Kumar, Chief Functionary, State appointed Mother NGO for Homeless
Ms. Ambika Pandit, Journalist, TNN (TBC)
Mr. H.S. Rawat, Co-Convener, Hawkers Joint Action Committee
EXHIBITION PARTNERS
Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA)
National Institute for Urban Affairs
School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi
Janpahal
India FDI Watch
HAQ
All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh
All India Rickshaw Pullers Association
Jhuggi Jhopri Ekta Manch
Hawkers thanking Ms. Girija Vyas, the Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of India for enacting central law to regulate and protect street vendors.
