WuI-MurL sIouId noL be bunned In ndIu

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By soni2006
No Wal-Mart should not be banned in ndia. n fact it should be encouraged in other countries too.
am sure it is going to be an asset to our country. Walmart should not be banned also because Wal-
Mart bills everything they sell and the billed money goes to taxation.
Tough competition for retailers Also, Walmart is coming here for the consumers like us. Lets make
use of it. Walmart squeezes the best deal from manufacturers and passes the benefit to consumers,
so think it is an asset. Competition in the market is always good for consumers. There was no
competition in post liberal era and we all can see the fruits of opening up of our markets, in form of
the growth.
Tell me a local store where the owner will bill you a genuine bill so that you can make sure that a
part of your money went to the government for development?
Entry of Wal-Mart into ndian market may actually prove a boon to local producers also if Walmart
decides to procure inventory locally. At least the Government of ndia must stipulate Wal-Mart to
procure at least a certain percentage of their inventory from the local markets.
Walmart will bring with it best practices to reduce the costs of operating a retail store. t is valuable
information for the ndian retailers to learn. To compete with Walmart, local retailers will have to
innovate. This will help the whole industry. The market is increasingly becoming global and now we
have international competition all over the world.
Employment potential Lots and lots of employment potential will also be created. This increases the
competition among the retail players, which is very good for the consumers/common man.
n favor of consumers One more point in favor of globalization and hence the entry of Walmart in
ndia is that it increases competitiveness among business houses thereby providing the end
consumer with many choices. You can choose what to buy at the price you like. f you don't like the
price or the product, you buy elsewhere.
We need global markets to enter in our country, so it is benefited by so many people. f the company
comes to ndia, so many people will be benefited like employment in that stores and easy access to
people to buy under one roof and you can get quality food.
Walmart is a good thing for the country. Retail business is still very unorganized in ndia.
So my dear friend, competition in any industry will only help get things better. We always had these
kinds of superstores. Something like Big Apple, Subhiksha, 365, but no one actually succeeded in
providing goods at reduced prices. Once Walmart enters the ndian market, these stores might learn
the process and come up with streamlined processes and hence might give a stiff competition to
Walmart. They will have the advantage of knowing the local market better.

WaI-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), branded as WaImart since 2008 and WaI-Mart before then, is an
American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and
warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes
Global 2000list, and the largest public corporation when ranked by revenue. t is also the biggest private
employer in the world with over 2 million employees, and is the largest retailer in the world.
The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and publicly
traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. t is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart is
also the largest grocery retailer in the United States. n 2009, it generated 51% of its US$258 billion sales
in the U.S. from grocery business.
[2]
t also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses in North
America.
Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names.
[3]
The company operates under its
own name in the United States, including the 50 states andPuerto Rico. t operates in Mexico as Walmex,
in the United Kingdom as Asda, in Japan as Seiyu, and in ndia as Best Price. t has wholly owned
operations inArgentina, Brazil, and Canada. Walmart's investments outside North America have had
mixed results: its operations in the United Kingdom, South America and China are highly successful,
whereas ventures in Germany and South Korea were unsuccessful.

About India FDI Watch

India FDI Watch is building awareness and Iacilitating grassroots action to prevent the take-over oI India's retail
sector by corporations. We are building Joint Action Committees (JAC) led by those who will be most aIIected,
mainly; trade associations, unions, hawkers organizations, Iarmers groups and small scale industries.
A National Streering Committee has Iormed in Delhi, oI which India FDI Watch is a Iacilitator and member. The
National Steering Committee has come under the banner Vyapaar Rozgaar Bachao Andolan. Similarly in Mumbai,
India FDI Watch is a chair and member oI the Vyapaar Rozgaar Suraksha Kriti Samiti. In Bangalore, India FDI
Watch is a key member and coordinator oI the Karnataka Joint Acton Committee Against Corporate Retail.
The National Steering Committee is working with partners across the country and the Joint Action Committees,
based in Mumbai and Bangalore to Iacilitate broad-based action at the local and national level and to develop policy
demands that will ensure the protection or enhancement oI those people who stand to be most impacted. Over the
next year India FDI Watch will work with the National Steering Committee to expand the grassroots base oI the
campaign by partnering with mass-based groups across the country.
India FDI Watch has been key in coordinating and organizing national actions; mainly the February 22nd actions
against thde Wal-Mart Vice Chairman's arrival in India to sign the Joint Venture with Bharti. On August 9th, 2007,
India FDI Watch again organized national, state, and local partners Ior a National Day oI Action, calling on
"Corporations to Quit Retail."
A call has been given to all the partners to hold demonstrations beIore corporate stores on 23rd February, 2008.
India FDI Watch will join and Iacilitate a mass rally in Delhi on 4th March 2008 against corporate retail. A call Ior
all India Trade Strike will be given in the Delhi Rally.



For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Brochure (in English).
For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Brochure (in Hindi)
For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Brochure (in Kannada.)
For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Brochure (in Malayam).
For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Handbill (in English)
For more inIormation, download the India FDI Watch Handbill (in Hindi)
Download our stickers here!


PRESS STATEMENT 'QUIT RETAIL' RALLY




One Lakh Traders, Mathadi Workers, Hawkers to 1oin ~Quit Retail Rally at Azad Maidan on 10th October
2007, 10 am.

To give war cry Ior
'Corporations Quit Retail,
'Scrap Model APMC Act,
'Oppose FDI in Retail
'Implement National Policy Ior Hawkers,
'Oppose the Bharti-Walmart Joint Venture,
'Demand a National Retail Policy and
'Scrap Wholesale Cash n Carry licenses issued to Metro and Shoprite

To read the rest, click here.


Thousands protested to oppose the Bharti-Walmart 1oint Venture

On the heels oI the announcement oI the Bharti-Walmart
joint venture, thousands oI traders, hawkers, Iarmers and
workers protested across India. Protesters also included a
group oI American students who demanded that Wal-
Mart not be allowed into India. Mass-based organizations
called on the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi to
immediately stop the Bharti-Walmart Joint Venture and
not allow Wal-Mart`s backdoor entry into India. There
was also a strong united call on all corporationsboth
Ioreign and domesticto "Quit Retail". The protests
were timed to commemorate the start oI the "Quit India"
movement, which started on August 9, 1942, with mass-
based sections oI society drawing parallels to the East
India Company and companies like Wal-Mart, Bharti and
Reliance.

Agitations took place in the metro cities oI Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata along with other major cities
including, Kalicut, Bhopal, Jaipur, Ranchi, Balia, Meerath, Sonipat, Nagpur, Nasik, Pune and Indore.

In Delhi, thousands oI traders, hawkers, Iarmers and workers protested in Chandni Chowk, a historical market, and
burned eIIigies oI Wal-Mart, Bharti and Reliance. Dharmendra Kumar, Director oI India FDI Watch and national
coordinator oI the Vyapaar Aur Rozgaar Bachao Andolan conducted the proceedings and told the agitators, "Both
Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have acknowledged the dangers oI corporations entering into the retail sector.
The Govt. has commissioned a report looking at the impact oI the entire supply chain on livelihoods aIter Sonia
Gandhi had written a letter oI caution. Sonia Gandhi had also publicly reIused to meet with Michael Duke, Wal-
Mart Vice-Chairman during his visit in February aIter public demonstrations were held due to his arrival. However,
both Sonia Gandhi and the PMO have remained silent on the Bharti-Wal-Mart deal and though they have publicly
cautioned against corporations and commissioned a study, they have taken no subsequent actions. He demanded that
the Wal-Mart Bharti joint venture should be immediately revoked and all corporations should be stopped until
thorough study has been conducted by an independent special task Iorce comprising oI stakeholders."

Shyam Bihari Mishra, President, Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal reIered back to the British Raj, stating, "The East
India Company, the most powerIul company at the time, came to colonize India`s people and domestic and
international trade and now Wal-Mart, the world`s largest company is trying to enter India to do the same. Mr.
Mishra said India has a history oI resistance, our people threw out the British and sixty years later iI millions have
their businesses and livelihoods threatened we will do the same now. He announced that Iamily members oI traders
would boycott corporate stores." Praveen Khandelwal, General Secretary, ConIederation oI All India Traders
(CAIT) said "The livelihoods oI retail traders are at stake. II big retail giants like Wal-Mart and Reliance come into
the country, small traders would be Iinished." A mass campaign would be launched to strike back and make
corporations realise that we will not let them ruin our livelihoods, he said.

Vandana Shiva, Director, Navdanya said "India is a land oI retail democracy- hundreds oI thousands oI weekly haats
and bazaars are located across the length and breadth oI our country by people`s own selI-organizational capacities.
In a country with large numbers oI people, and high levels oI poverty, the existing model oI retail democracy is the
most appropriate in terms oI economic viability and ecological sustainability.".

Shaktiman Ghosh, General Secretary, National Hawkers Federation warned the government "about taking such
strong stances against India`s millions oI hawkers and small shopkeepers in Iavor oI only a Iew huge corporations
who seek to dominate the Indian retail market."

Mr. Indu Prakash oI Campaign Ior Judicial Accountability and ReIorm revealed the nexus between judiciary and
corporate retail which led to the ceiling oI shops oI more than one hundred thousands oI traders oI Delhi and still
goes on.


Mr. Bhati oI Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Delhi, Harbhajan Singh Siddhu, National Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha,
Sunil Kansal, Secretary, Rashtriya Vyapar Mandal, Hakim Singh Rawat, General Secretary, Delhi Hawkers WelIare
Association, Banwari Lal Sharma, President, Aazadi Bachaon Aandolan, R K Sharma, Secreatry, UTUC-Lenin
Sarani and Venkatesh oI Lok Raj Sangathan also addressed the protesters in Delhi.

In Mumbai, thousands oI retailers, hawkers, workers and cooperatives participated in a one day trade bandh and a
mass public event organized by the Vyapaar Rozgaar Suraksha Kriti Samiti, a joint action committee oI trade
associations, hawkers groups, trade unions and others. Leaders oI Federation oI Associations oI Maharastra (FAM),
Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA), India FDI Watch, Mumbai Mahanagar Vyapari Seva Parishad
(MMVSP), Mumbai Vyapar Mahasang (MVM), Apna Bazaar, National Hawkers Federation, Center oI Indian Trade
Unions (CITU) and Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP) addressed the protesters. Mohan Gurnani, Convener
oI the Mumbai based Vyapaar Rozgaar Suraksha Kriti Samiti and President oI the Federation oI Associations oI
Maharastra (FAM) said "organised retaling would leave 20 crore people without jobs. Let the government Iirst come
out with a rehabilitation Ior these people and then it can open up FDI in retail". Kishore Shah, President oI the
Mobile & Telecom Retailers and Distributors Association (MTRDA), stated that around 12,000 retail shop-keepers
deal in SIM cards and recharge vouchers oI Air-Tel in Mumbai, generating business worth crores oI rupees every
day. Mr. Shah said "We have already inIormed all our members, distributors and wholesalers against selling any
Airtel products". The Mumbai APMCwholesale market remained closed, along with thousands oI retail shops
across the city, including all chemists and druggists shops. Apna Bazaar, Maharastra`s largest cooperative store also
downed its shutters and wholesale markets remained closed in Nasik and Pune.
At an evening event at Shanmukananda Hall in Mumbai mass-based groups laid out a Iuture course oI action and
adopted a charter oI demands. They called on the Center to immediately repeal the Wholesale Cash-n-Carry
Permission, and all licenses granted under the permission; repeal the APMC Model Act, implement the National
Policy on Street Vendors, take measures against predatory pricing and Iormulate a national policy on retail trade and
small scale industries.

In Bangalore thousands protested at the town hall and burned eIIigies oI corporate retailers like Wal-Mart and
Reliance. The protest culminated in leaders presenting the Governor with a memorandum calling on the state to
repeal the recent passage oI the APMC Model Act. A Charter oI Demands, same as was passed in Mumbai, was also
placed beIore the District Collector. Smaller protests were organized throughout the state in diIIerent districts
including Kodagu, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Davangere districts.

In Jaipur IiIty American students joined with hawkers demanding that Wal-Mart leave India and demanding
implementation oI the National Policy on Street Vendors. The American students and hawkers demonstrated in the
old city and held signs saying "Americans Oppose Wal-Mart Everywhere". Ms. Cheryl, an American citizen,
learning Hindi at Jaipur said that Wal-Mart has a disastrous impact on small shopkeepers and neighbourhood
communities in America and called Indians to learn Irom their experience and not to allow Wal-Mart to operate in
India. Ms. Cheryl said that the world is moving Irom Corporate to Cooperative` and Indians should not corporatize
their cooperatives.

In Kerala the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Egono Samiti organized protest marches in over 1000 places across the
state. In Kalicut over 10,000 traders protested in Iront oI the corporation`s oIIice and submitted a memorandum
demanding that corporations keep out oI retail and the immediate halt to Wal-Mart`s backdoor entry and the repeal
oI the Wholesale Cash-N-Carry permission.

In Kolkata the Federation oI Trade Organizations (FTO) oI West Bengal organized protests in all the 12 districts oI
the city along with protests across West Bengal, including in Iront oI malls. Tens oI thousands traders participated in
the protest. In the evening, thousands oI hawkers took out a protest march Irom the city museum.

In Ranchi, Uday Shankar Ojha who led the vegetable vendors beIore Reliance Fresh in May and has only recently
been released Irom Jail, led thousands oI hawkers and vegetable vendors at Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi,
demanding that Reliance Fresh and all other corporations leave the retail sector and "withdraw their sinister plans to
displace millions oI livelihoods".

In Bhopal there was a state-level protest meeting in the morning at Gandhi Bhavan and traders sat on a dharna at
Roshanara Chowk in the aIternoon and burn eIIigies oI Wal-Mart, Bharti and Reliance. A call Ior Bhopal Bandh
was given Ior 21 August to oust corporate Irom retail trade.

Similar protests were organized in other cities including Allahabad, Lucknow, Meerut, Bagpat and Sonipat.


VYAPAR ROZGAR SURAKSHA KRITI SAMITI


Tuesday, 18th December, 2007

In a daring action more then 10,000 mathadi workers ,Traders, Hawkers blocked the main avenue in sector 17, Navi
Mumbai today at 4pm , this traIIic intersection is also known as Arenja Chowk, completely paralysing the traIIic in
this satellite town oI Mumbai.The eIIect oI this blockade was Ielt Ior several hours and the TraIIic upto Mumbai was
severely aIIected.

The sight oI the 10,000 strong procession as it wound its way gathering momentum like a river comming down a
mountain shocked the onlookers policemen who had gathered in hundreds to stop the procession Irom going to the
main Mumbai-Pune highway as announced by the samiti, the look on the policemen said it all, as they wondered that
iI this disciplined procession were to decide to break the cordon and move to the highway the policeIorce gathered
would not have been able to stop them.

The procession was led by a Truck on which a live D.J belted out songs and slogans Irom the proIessional sound
system ( which is normally seen in Ganpati Iestivals and carnivals) was a Iirst oI its kind seen in any protest
procession in the city. The leaders led by Shri Mohan Gurnani, Shri Narendra Patil, Shri Sharad Maru, Shri Ashok
Baria gave slogans and kept the crowd going.

The procession went thru all the wholesale markets oI vegetable, grain Iruits which supply the entire agricultural
supplies to the 1,30,00,000 population oI Mumbai, all the markets closed down their shutters and Ior the Iirst time
both traders and their employees joined the procession in response to the joint appeals and slogans oI the Traders
and workers.

With every passing market the crowd grew, as it reached the Arenja chowk the procession was surrounded by the
waiting policemen and state reserve police and the samiti was asked to stop their procession and not proceed
towards the highway, Iearing largescale violence the organisers decided that they would end the procession in the
middle oI the traIIic intersection and have a meeting , in a quick conversion one oI the busiest streets oI Navi
Mumbai bccame the open air venue oI a protest meeting to demand the national policy to protect retail trade and
livelihoods oI the workers.

As leaders Irom the Samiti climbed on to the traIIic island which became a temprorary dias the crowd oI 10,000
settled down and squatted on the streets, all the overlooking commercial buildings stopped their activity as business
came to a standstill, there were people standing on their balconies and terraces watching this gathering in the middle
oI the intersection.

All the speakers Irom the samiti and the supporting organisations condemned the State and Central government Ior
not being able to protect the livelihoods and stop the entry oI national corporations i.e Reliance, Subiksha, More etc
and multinationals i.e Wallmart , Metro etc. into the retail trade. They warned the State government and the chieI
Minister that iI they did not get a response within 8 days , the samiti would take millitant action and block traIIic in
diIIrent places and move the protests at the doorsteps oI the Corporations.

The protest ended peaceIully with a call Iom all organisations to take a delegation to meet the C.M and demand
action in the next Iew days , the meeting which was well covered by the print and electronic media ended in slogans
oI " Go Back Wall-Mart" and " Corporations Quit Retail".

Dare To Struggle Dare To Win.
Vinod Shetty. India FDI Watch


Rathke's Take: Big is not beautiful in retail


Published in the Economic Times, 29 September
IS RELIANCE Retail going the Wal-Mart way? The opposition to Reliance`s retail business in India is quite similar
to the opposition that Wal-Mart has generated in the US. This similarity becomes even more obvious when one
looks at the ways in which activists have initiated their campaign. Not only is the modus-operandi common, even
the people spearheading the activities are veteran anti-Wal-Mart activists.
Wade Rathke, undisputably the most prominent and vocal opponent oI Wal-Mart internationally, has been in regular
touch with the leaders oI the India FDI Watch campaign. Mr Rathke is the chieI organiser oI Association oI
Community Organisations Ior ReIorm Now (ACORN) which also mobilised the public in South Korea and
Germany, the two markets Irom whereWal-Mart subsequently withdrew. 'I have been in touch with various
stakeholder groups in India, including small traders, Iarmers and suppliers, says Mr Rathke.
It is interesting to note that the campign is targeting Iarmers as well, because the biggest beneIit ascribed to
organised retail is that Iarmers will get a better price Ior their produce. However, Mr Rathke has a diIIerent take on
this issue. 'The Iarmers need to understand the long-term plan oI these corporates. Once a Iarmer is into this vicious
circle, may be 2-3 years down the line, he will be leIt with no option but to surrender his land to one oI these
corporate giants, he says.
Mr Rathke has been a proIessional campaign organiser Ior the last 35 years and has Iounded a series oI organisations
on the issues oI social justice and worker rights. He also spearheads a union oI Wal-Mart workers, though the
company has not accorded oIIicial recognition to the Iorum. ACORN is one oI the largest community organisations
in the US. Mr Rathke has been particularly vocal against Wal-Mart`s labour practises in the US, having initiated a
series oI litigations and labour movements against the Bentonville retailer, which has on many occasions, been in the
line oI Iire Ior violating labour laws in the US, Canada and some European countries. In January 2006, Wal-Mart
had to pay $135,540 to settle Iederal charges that it violated child labour laws in Connecticut, Arkansas and New
Hampshire. Still earlier, in March 2000, the company was Iined $205,650 Ior violations oI labour laws in one out oI
every 20 stores in the state oI Maine, US.


Thousands protested to oppose the Bharti-Walmart 1oint Venture

On the heels oI the announcement oI the Bharti-Walmart
joint venture, thousands oI traders, hawkers, Iarmers and
workers protested across India. Protesters also included a
group oI American students who demanded that Wal-
Mart not be allowed into India. Mass-based organizations
called on the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi to
immediately stop the Bharti-Walmart Joint Venture and
not allow Wal-Mart`s backdoor entry into India. There
was also a strong united call on all corporationsboth
Ioreign and domesticto "Quit Retail". The protests
were timed to commemorate the start oI the "Quit India"
movement, which started on August 9, 1942, with mass-
based sections oI society drawing parallels to the East
India Company and companies like Wal-Mart, Bharti and
Reliance.

Agitations took place in the metro cities oI Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata along with other major cities
including, Kalicut, Bhopal, Jaipur, Ranchi, Balia, Meerath, Sonipat, Nagpur, Nasik, Pune and Indore.

In Delhi, thousands oI traders, hawkers, Iarmers and workers protested in Chandni Chowk, a historical market, and
burned eIIigies oI Wal-Mart, Bharti and Reliance. Dharmendra Kumar, Director oI India FDI Watch and national
coordinator oI the Vyapaar Aur Rozgaar Bachao Andolan conducted the proceedings and told the agitators, "Both
Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have acknowledged the dangers oI corporations entering into the retail sector.
The Govt. has commissioned a report looking at the impact oI the entire supply chain on livelihoods aIter Sonia
Gandhi had written a letter oI caution. Sonia Gandhi had also publicly reIused to meet with Michael Duke, Wal-
Mart Vice-Chairman during his visit in February aIter public demonstrations were held due to his arrival. However,
both Sonia Gandhi and the PMO have remained silent on the Bharti-Wal-Mart deal and though they have publicly
cautioned against corporations and commissioned a study, they have taken no subsequent actions. He demanded that
the Wal-Mart Bharti joint venture should be immediately revoked and all corporations should be stopped until
thorough study has been conducted by an independent special task Iorce comprising oI stakeholders."

Shyam Bihari Mishra, President, Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal reIered back to the British Raj, stating, "The East
India Company, the most powerIul company at the time, came to colonize India`s people and domestic and
international trade and now Wal-Mart, the world`s largest company is trying to enter India to do the same. Mr.
Mishra said India has a history oI resistance, our people threw out the British and sixty years later iI millions have
their businesses and livelihoods threatened we will do the same now. He announced that Iamily members oI traders
would boycott corporate stores." Praveen Khandelwal, General Secretary, ConIederation oI All India Traders
(CAIT) said "The livelihoods oI retail traders are at stake. II big retail giants like Wal-Mart and Reliance come into
the country, small traders would be Iinished." A mass campaign would be launched to strike back and make
corporations realise that we will not let them ruin our livelihoods, he said.

Vandana Shiva, Director, Navdanya said "India is a land oI retail democracy- hundreds oI thousands oI weekly haats
and bazaars are located across the length and breadth oI our country by people`s own selI-organizational capacities.
In a country with large numbers oI people, and high levels oI poverty, the existing model oI retail democracy is the
most appropriate in terms oI economic viability and ecological sustainability.".

Shaktiman Ghosh, General Secretary, National Hawkers Federation warned the government "about taking such
strong stances against India`s millions oI hawkers and small shopkeepers in Iavor oI only a Iew huge corporations
who seek to dominate the Indian retail market."

Mr. Indu Prakash oI Campaign Ior Judicial Accountability and ReIorm revealed the nexus between judiciary and
corporate retail which led to the ceiling oI shops oI more than one hundred thousands oI traders oI Delhi and still
goes on.


Mr. Bhati oI Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Delhi, Harbhajan Singh Siddhu, National Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha,
Sunil Kansal, Secretary, Rashtriya Vyapar Mandal, Hakim Singh Rawat, General Secretary, Delhi Hawkers WelIare
Association, Banwari Lal Sharma, President, Aazadi Bachaon Aandolan, R K Sharma, Secreatry, UTUC-Lenin
Sarani and Venkatesh oI Lok Raj Sangathan also addressed the protesters in Delhi.

In Mumbai, thousands oI retailers, hawkers, workers and cooperatives participated in a one day trade bandh and a
mass public event organized by the Vyapaar Rozgaar Suraksha Kriti Samiti, a joint action committee oI trade
associations, hawkers groups, trade unions and others. Leaders oI Federation oI Associations oI Maharastra (FAM),
Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA), India FDI Watch, Mumbai Mahanagar Vyapari Seva Parishad
(MMVSP), Mumbai Vyapar Mahasang (MVM), Apna Bazaar, National Hawkers Federation, Center oI Indian Trade
Unions (CITU) and Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP) addressed the protesters. Mohan Gurnani, Convener
oI the Mumbai based Vyapaar Rozgaar Suraksha Kriti Samiti and President oI the Federation oI Associations oI
Maharastra (FAM) said "organised retaling would leave 20 crore people without jobs. Let the government Iirst come
out with a rehabilitation Ior these people and then it can open up FDI in retail". Kishore Shah, President oI the
Mobile & Telecom Retailers and Distributors Association (MTRDA), stated that around 12,000 retail shop-keepers
deal in SIM cards and recharge vouchers oI Air-Tel in Mumbai, generating business worth crores oI rupees every
day. Mr. Shah said "We have already inIormed all our members, distributors and wholesalers against selling any
Airtel products". The Mumbai APMCwholesale market remained closed, along with thousands oI retail shops
across the city, including all chemists and druggists shops. Apna Bazaar, Maharastra`s largest cooperative store also
downed its shutters and wholesale markets remained closed in Nasik and Pune.
At an evening event at Shanmukananda Hall in Mumbai mass-based groups laid out a Iuture course oI action and
adopted a charter oI demands. They called on the Center to immediately repeal the Wholesale Cash-n-Carry
Permission, and all licenses granted under the permission; repeal the APMC Model Act, implement the National
Policy on Street Vendors, take measures against predatory pricing and Iormulate a national policy on retail trade and
small scale industries.

In Bangalore thousands protested at the town hall and burned eIIigies oI corporate retailers like Wal-Mart and
Reliance. The protest culminated in leaders presenting the Governor with a memorandum calling on the state to
repeal the recent passage oI the APMC Model Act. A Charter oI Demands, same as was passed in Mumbai, was also
placed beIore the District Collector. Smaller protests were organized throughout the state in diIIerent districts
including Kodagu, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Davangere districts.

In Jaipur IiIty American students joined with hawkers demanding that Wal-Mart leave India and demanding
implementation oI the National Policy on Street Vendors. The American students and hawkers demonstrated in the
old city and held signs saying "Americans Oppose Wal-Mart Everywhere". Ms. Cheryl, an American citizen,
learning Hindi at Jaipur said that Wal-Mart has a disastrous impact on small shopkeepers and neighbourhood
communities in America and called Indians to learn Irom their experience and not to allow Wal-Mart to operate in
India. Ms. Cheryl said that the world is moving Irom Corporate to Cooperative` and Indians should not corporatize
their cooperatives.

In Kerala the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Egono Samiti organized protest marches in over 1000 places across the
state. In Kalicut over 10,000 traders protested in Iront oI the corporation`s oIIice and submitted a memorandum
demanding that corporations keep out oI retail and the immediate halt to Wal-Mart`s backdoor entry and the repeal
oI the Wholesale Cash-N-Carry permission.

In Kolkata the Federation oI Trade Organizations (FTO) oI West Bengal organized protests in all the 12 districts oI
the city along with protests across West Bengal, including in Iront oI malls. Tens oI thousands traders participated in
the protest. In the evening, thousands oI hawkers took out a protest march Irom the city museum.

In Ranchi, Uday Shankar Ojha who led the vegetable vendors beIore Reliance Fresh in May and has only recently
been released Irom Jail, led thousands oI hawkers and vegetable vendors at Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi,
demanding that Reliance Fresh and all other corporations leave the retail sector and "withdraw their sinister plans to
displace millions oI livelihoods".

In Bhopal there was a state-level protest meeting in the morning at Gandhi Bhavan and traders sat on a dharna at
Roshanara Chowk in the aIternoon and burn eIIigies oI Wal-Mart, Bharti and Reliance. A call Ior Bhopal Bandh
was given Ior 21 August to oust corporate Irom retail trade.

Similar protests were organized in other cities including Allahabad, Lucknow, Meerut, Bagpat and Sonipat.


Hunger strike against corporate retail in Chennai

June 15th 2007

Chennai, Tamil NaduAt around 9am on 15th oI June
2007 around 800 people gathered near the Chepauk
Cricket Stadium opposite oI the Government guest house
shouting slogans against the WTO, neo-liberal trade
agreements and the rise oI corporate retail. The
government oI Tamilnadu has given permission to
corporate retailers like Reliance, ITC and others contract
directly with Iarmers and do business on a massive-scale,
with out putting any restrictions that may protect the
livelihoods oI Iarmers and those already involved in the
retail trade.

The hunger strike was organized by the Tamil Nadu
Vanigar, Samgankalin Peravar (Tamil Nadu Traders`
Association Federation), headed by T. Vellaiyan. The
Tamil Nadu Traders` Association is a mass based
organization, which has been resisting the entry oI Ioreign retailers and growth oI corporate retail Ior many years.

Traders Irom diIIerent districts oI the state assembled at the venue. All the traders wore white shirt and white dhoti
and created an atmosphere that resembled the days oI the independence movement struggle. T. Vellaiyan addressed
the media people about the purpose oI the hunger strike.

T. Vellaiyan cited the examples oI the WTO and other trade agreements supported by the Center government that
are Iacilitating the entry oI corporations into the retail sector. He said that 'this is why our traders, hawkers and
other stake holders are on the streets, today because big corporate companies are pushing us to the streets. We are
opposing the state government and the central government in this regard.

Mr. Vellaiyan, went on, 'We know how to do business oI tamarind, we know where the goods are coming to the
state and our markets, how to supply and to do business has been learnt through our experiences oI IoreIathers. We
are not Irom diIIerent countries are born here and going to die here. We are not asking government to give loans or
subsidies; in turn we pay regular taxes. The companies, which are entering in to retail are getting more beneIits Irom
the governments.


April Seminar on the APMC Amendment Act




Mr. T. Vellaiyan, President oI Tamil Nadu
Vanigar Sangankalin Peravai

In January 2007, The India FDI Watch campaign began
to build awareness on FDI in retail and the eIIect oI entry
oI Wal-Mart and other companies in the retail trade
across the communities oI traders, hawkers, street
vendors, vegetable merchants, unions, NGO`s and the
aIIected communities by raising awareness among the
Stake holders.

In April 21st, 2007 a seminar was organized in Bangalore
the capital city and IT Hub oI Karnataka, which is the
Iastest developing city in Asia. The present trend in retail
business shows that multinational companies and national
companies are planning to enter into the retail business,
and already Metro Cash & Carry, a Germany-based
company, has started business in Bangalore while the
national companies like Reliance, Fabmall (Aditya Birla
group) Big Bazar, Food Bazar, Food World, Spencer and
other hyper malls have opened their stores. The present
law is governed by the Agriculture Produce Marketing
Committee (APMC) oI Karnataka which was constituted
by the Government oI Karnataka in 1960`s to manage the
trade aIIairs in the local market. APMC is a democratic
body elected by the members oI traders and Iarmers. To
pave the way Ior FDI in retail and contract Iarming in
agriculture, the Government oI Karnataka is planning to
amend the present act by introducing the Model APMC
act, which was introduced by the Central government oI
India.

Seminar on APMC AMENDMENT ACT AND CORPORATE RETAIL: Impact on Agriculture, Retail and
Workers, 21st April 2007, SCMI house, Bangalore.

Freedom Iighter and noted intellectual oI Karnataka Mr. Doraiswamy inaugurated the seminar by launching a
signature campaign, symbolically by signing against the APMC amendment act and corporate retail. He opposed the
government because it is not considering the realities oI the present situation. He Iurther stated that FDI in retail
would have adverse eIIects & consequences on the agriculture sector, retail sector and the related workIorces. He
also stressed the need Ior another struggle to ensure the Ireedom in the agricultural sector, retail and unorganized
employment sector.

KRRS Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sanga (Farmers movement oI Karnataka) leader Mrs Sunanda Jayaram told, that the
amendment in the APMC act would aIIect the Iarmers as the act will bring in contract Iarming and throw the
agricultural trading outside the government control, eliminating the small Iarmers and leading to concentration on
the land with a Iew big companies. She also questioned whether the Iarmers asked the government Ior the
amendment in the act? Which the government claims is Iarmer Iriendly. Without consulting the main stake holders
like Iarmers, traders, workers and other dependent people government should not amend the present act and allow
the corporate retail or FDI in retail business. She Iurther added that we should not allow any amendment which
would have a negative impact on our livelihood; KRRS will support the present campaign and will be a partner in
eIIorts. Mr. Anandam past president oI FKCCI chaired the session and told the gathering that the present
government is not considering the traders and treating the traders as nobody, and we are opposing the move oI the
government. He Iurther stated that united struggle is needed to pressurize the government not to take any steps to
amending the act; traders will be part oI the struggle and will be active in the process oI raising voice against the
APMC amendment and corporate retailing.

Mr. G.R. Shivashankar, chair person, TUCC (Trade union coordination committee) told that we know how to do


Mr. Doraiswamy



Seminar leaders
retail business because we are having generations oI experience in retail and in agricultural but nowadays Wal-Mart
and Reliance is teaching us the business oI retail, we oppose this. Our hawkers, small trade retailers, street vendors,
and the big traders will lose their livelihood because oI the entry oI MNC`s and national companies which have
targeted our livelihood options. I Iurther call upon the government not to amend the act, which is providing Iree
space to contract Iarming and FDI in retail.

During the aIternoon session Mr. R.V. Gopi the president oI Wholesale Iruits and vegetable merchants association
addressed the gathering. He told that we are very Iriendly with Iarmers and we are part oI their Iamilies but
government is projecting us as the villains which is not true, ask any Iarmer who is having relationships with us he
will reveal the realities. We are having cordial and harmonious relationship with the Iarmer`s community. We are
supporting the community in terms oI providing small loans and other necessities, because without Iarmers we don`t
have identities, because oI them we are doing our business and earning our livelihood.

Mr. C.P. Subbrayashetty president oI APMC action committee was also one oI the chieI guests oI the seminar
addressed the gathering and told that Irom past at least Irom Iive generations we are involved in this business we
know how to do business without the government we are paying taxes regularly and we are also involved in
development oI the state indirectly, but the politicians and the bureaucracy is running behind the companies to get
the kickbacks and giving licenses to the corporate retailers which is harmIul to our democracy. Our committee will
support the organisations and people who are opposing the present amendment and FDI in retail.

Mr. K.N.Umesh spoke on the occasion on the issues oI workers in the garment Iactories which are supplying the
goods to MNC`s and other companies, that all these companies are exploiting the labour laws and not labour
Iriendly. The contract basis work will not give security to workers and the employees; the new agenda oI these
companies is to hire the workers whenever they need in the name oI job training aIter some time they remove the
workers. This uncertainty will increase iI more companies entry in our retail. In the name oI below MRP prices the
companies are projecting themselves as consumer Iriendly and buying directly Irom Iarmers is shown as Iarmer
Iriendly. But the ultimate goal is to destroy the communities, which are living on agriculture and related trades and
become monopolies.

Mr. Muttappa secretary oI Garment workers union also addressed the gathering and shared his experiences oI Mall`s
and departmental stores workers. The metro cash and carry shop is violating the labour laws, not only this company
but also all the companies that are supplying diIIerent goods and commodities to other companies are same.

During the seminar Mr. Venkatesh and Mr. R.V.Gopi symbolically made signatures on the resolutions against the
APMC amendment and corporate retail, through this oIIicially JAC was launched.

Around 100 people were gathered in the seminar, Mr. Babu. S. Khan oI FDI Watch Campaign introduced and
welcomed the gathering. Mr.Rajendra Prabhakar, Dr. Lakshmipathi were also addressed the gathering. Mr. Wade
Rathke oI ACORN and Reena Desai Irom FDI watch have also participated in the seminar.CITU, Unicome,
Cassum, PUCL-K, Students Forum oI St.Joseph College, SaIe-K, Paraspara, Trees, Garment Workers Union,
Security Guards Union, APSA, Vegetable & Fruit Merchants Association, FKCCI, Vegetable Commission agents
were actively participated in the seminar





Meeting with Maharastra Chamber of Commerce

On April 18th a meeting was arranged by the Maharastra
Chamber oI Commerce, inviting Wade Rathke, Iounder
and ChieI Organizer oI ACORN, the Association oI
Community Organizations Ior ReIorm Now, to speak on
the impact oI Wal-Mart in the US. Rathke addressed a
crowd oI about thirty, including members oI the press to
apprise local business owners oI Wal-Mart`s business
model and what that model would mean Ior small
businesses and small-scale industries in a city like
Mumbai, India`s Iinancial capitial.

The meeting was also attended by Member oI Parliament
Eknath Thakur, Shiv Sena, the Iormer President oI the
Maharastra Chamber oI Commerce. MP Eknath Thakur,
was keen to address take up the issue oI predatory pricing
in Parliament and use examples oI US law, particularly
the Patman Act as a template to bring beIore Parliament.

The exchange between Wade Rathke and the Maharastra Chamber oI Commerce in Industry and Agriculture along
with members oI the Federation oI Associations oI Maharastra was an instructive dialogue and testament to how
established business houses in India are Iacing the same threats that small businesses, cooperative stores and
hawkers are Iacing and Iiguring out ways to cope.


The FDI in Retail Campaign has increased its range to go beyond opposing Ioreign direct investment in retail. The
campaign has expanded its reach to take on domestic and Ioreign retailers, including recent partnerships like that
between Wal-Mart and Reliance.
To read more about this change, see the Iollowing article Irom the Economic Times.
Click here Ior more inIormation


Report on 22 February Day of Action on FDI in Retail

India FDI Watch called Ior a day oI action on February
22nd to oppose the arrival oI Michael Duke, Vice
Chairman oI Wal-Mart, in India. Duke visited India to
put Iinal plans on the joint venture deal between Wal-
Mart and Sunil Bharti Mittal. India FDI Watch along
with campaign partners organized actions and events in
Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

In Mumbai campaign leaders came together Ior a joint
press conIerence and platIorm against the 'back-door
entry oI Wal-Mart and called on the government to
oppose the deal. In Delhi, protesters led by the CPI (M)
burned staged a militant protest at the steps oI
Parliament, breaking through police barricades and
burning eIIigies oI Wal-Mart. Over 300 protesters
participated in the action. In Bangalore, groups protested at Gandhi Statue on MG Road, a central location in the


MP Eknath Thakur addresses meeting


city, and organized a press conIerence.

The February 22nd, Call Ior Action came in the context oI a letter written by Sonia Gandhi, President oI Congress
Party, cautioning the UPA government`s rush to open the market to Wal-Mart and other organized retail chains. She
called on the Prime Minister`s OIIice (PMO) to Iully examine the impact that FDI in Retail and growth oI corporate
retail chains will have on the livelihoods oI millions oI retailers.

The 22nd Call Ior Action succeeded in intensiIying the protest against Wal-Mart`s entry into India and Iurthering
political and public debate and opposition against the opening oI FDI in Retail and growth oI corporate retail
chains.