Hawkers leaders from around the country met the Home Minister, Mr. Shivraj Patil, who has been made the Chairman of Empowered Group of Ministers to draft Livelihood Protection and Regulation of Street Vending Bill and discussed the threats to hawkers.

The hawkers leaders were lead by Medha Patkar, Working President, National Hawkers Federation and Saktiman Ghosh, General Secretary, National Hawkers Federation. The leaders were joined by Mr. Abani Roy, Prominent Parliamentarian, Raju Bhise, President, YUVA, Dharmendra Kumar, Director, India FDI Watch and Cheryl of Socialist Hawkers Union.

The leaders demanded mandatory implementation of the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors by all States and Municipalities and called for decriminalization of street vending by amendment to the Indian Penal Code, Police Act, and all relevant state and Municipal acts. They demanded a complete ban on foreign direct investment in retail and comprehensive regulation of domestic corporations who are hijacking the retail trade of hawkers.

The leaders demanded a complete ban on all corporations selling fruits, vegetables, groceries, and daily use goods. The leaders also demanded social security for hawkers, including pension, maternity, and health benefits.

The Home Minister assured the delegation to incorporate their demands in the proposed draft.

Addressing a press conference later, Medha Patkar accused Mukesh Ambani of being shameless to announce to "double" their profit from Reliance Fresh. Shaktiman Ghosh announced a march to parliament during its winter session to forward hawkers demands.

Hawkers represent one of the largest contingents of the unorganized sector, which constitutes 93% of the workforce and contributes 65% of the country’s GDP.

In Solidarity !

Dharmendra Kumar
Director
India FDI Watch
M-9871179084
Email :
dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk
dkfordignity@gmail.com

April 24 2008 is the scheduled date for the worldwide release of the free and most useful operating system for Indians who want to learn quality and modern software development and open source software technologies - Ubuntu 8.04 .

The new features for the benefit of those who have already been using Ubuntu Linux for more than one year in Indian markets and on Indian computers are :

1. New Linux Kernel

2. Gnome 2.22

3. Python Software Programming Language version 2.5.2

4. Firefox browser version 3

For more details about using this free and modern Ubuntu Linux version for your favorite computer or laptop - Ubuntu 8.04 code named Hardy Heron see the Ubuntu Wiki

Yes April 2008 - Watch out for the best gift for your computer and printer - Ubuntu Linux

लोकविद्या आई टी कार्यशाला एवम मन्थन - सन् २००८ - देहरादून उत्तराँचल -

LokVidya IT KaryaShala Evam Manthan - July/August 2008 - Dehradoon
Duration - 7 Days
Format - A group of 50 - 60 participants will live together for 7 days and interact in loose group settings.
Costs : Free to participate - Organizations pay for their participants travel, hostel, stationary and food costs - Voluntary contributions welcome
Topic - LokVidya IT and related issues in context of and as relevant to - swadeshi samaj and IT hierarchies.
Access - Open to all age-groups, backgrounds and IT skill levels.
Girls and youth from Hindi speaking and rural background will get priority over English speaking and urban background participants in case hostel accommodation is exceeded.
Breakup - Groups of 10 participants will join together to form Teams. Each Team will have access to One Desktop Computer and Free Software.
Participants should be encouraged to ask questions and actively kill fear of Information Technology.
Leader of each group will be rated by the team on how cooperative and knowledgeable he or she is.
Is knowledge to be shared or to be kept secret and mystified ?
Participants - About 15 from each activist organization - Any participant who has a laptop can bring it along if it has Ubuntu loaded on it or wants Ubuntu loaded on it.
Medium of Instruction - Hindi and English
Proposed Content - A. Karyashala B. Manthan

Rough Outline of LokVidya IT - 1 - Course Content :
A. LokVidyaIT Karyashala and Manthan :

1. Demonstration of component parts of a Desktop Computer and UPS
2. Connecting and Installing a Computer with UPS - Power Connections - Internet connection
3. Examining an Ubuntu Linux CD
4. Installing Ubuntu Linux on a computer - independently by oneself - then reformatting Hard Disk and Reinstalling Ubuntu - Remove fear of Computers - Does Software cause a shock ? Brief discussion of Directory structure.
5. Reading and Discussing about Ubuntu software ownership and Terms of Use - Asking Who is making Free Software for Me and Why ?
Asking who is NOT making Free Software for me and Why ?
6. Tips for teaching others how to Ubuntu - especially children, youth and women
7. Creating a free Email Account and remembering Password details
8. Configuring speaker and multimedia connections
9. Search Engine and how to search for free Information
10. How to download Ubuntu and other free softwares and from where
11. What is Wikipedia - How to make a Wikipedia account and create a page to share information on Wikipedia
12. Writing in Hindi on Desktop Computer and Hindi on Internet
13. Send an email in Hindi
14. How to search and find other Free Softwares - How to search for - and - block pornography -
15. Using a Digital Camera and uploading photos
16. How to compare software features
17. Creating a basic document, spreadsheet and Presentation using Free Software on Ubuntu and Emailing it.
18. Creating a free Blog - Apna Akhbar - MeraAkhbar - Create, Edit, Delete, Search
19. Create a Google Group for family and friends - news and details
20. How to book a Railway Ticket from the Indian Railways website / How to file an Online Income Tax Return / How to send an email to Laloo Yadav in Hindi
21. How to search for information from the Right to Information Act website - How to search for Hindi IT courses offered by Indian Institute of Technology / IIM and other top IT and management training institutes of India
22. How to book a web domain for a website and create a free Hindi website - if time permits
23. Any other interesting topic by Participants Demand

Small traders and hawkers won another battle. This time in Rajasthan. In its fifth budget, Rajasthan’s BJP government has proposed several ’small trader’ friendly proposals - including a four percent tax on fruits and vegetables sold by corporate-run food stores like Reliance Fresh and Spencers. The levy is aimed at protecting street vendors. Prabhulal Saini, Agriculture Minister, Rajasthan said, “Small vendors and traders cannot compete with big retailers. So to bridge this gap and encourage the small traders, we have made a proposal to levy 4% tax. The small vendor should be able to sell vegetables without paying tax, get concessions & earn his livelihood.

In another development, European Union (EU) calls for new supermarkets inquiry. The European Union assembly has this week called for an investigation into the practices of the larger grocery chains across the continent. The assembly said that the EU’s competition body, the European Commission, should intervene to protect consumer choice and the environment.

Reliance is close to signing an agreement with Polo Ralph Lauren, the US-based design and distribution house, known for its range of high-end casual and semi-formal clothings as well as accessories and fragrances under internationally famous luxury labels like Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco, to bring these premium products in India. However, it is noteworthy that only last week, following opposition by the Pacific Heights Neighborhood Association and the Fillmore Merchants Association, the city Planning Commission of San Francisco voted 6-1 to deny Ralph Lauren permission to open a boutique on Fillmore Street. People are battling against Ralph Lauren in San Francisco’s neighborhoods, and Pacific Heights is the front line. Ralph Lauren had signed a lease for 3,500 square feet at 2040 Fillmore St., the former site of Smith & Hawken, another chain store. The New York-based fashion retailer has long wanted to open a shop on Fillmore Street, where upscale national brands like Marc Jacobs, Simon Pearce and Jonathan Adler have rung up success and turned the neighborhood street into a shopping destination where one-off boutiques mingle with national players.  While the Planning Department had recommended the commission approve a conditional use permit for Ralph Lauren, the Fillmore Street Merchants Association has decided to oppose all future chain retail.

Subhiksha, the discount retail chain of India, moves to legal measures to get drugs as drug companies’ are refusing to sell medicines directly to corporate retailers for fear of a boycott by their current retailers and wholesalers. The large drug retailing (5.5 lakh chemists across India) and wholesale industry is extremely well organised and is able to resist corporate hijack through the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. 

In Solidarity!

Dharmendra Kumar

Director

India FDI Watch

M-09871179084

Email:dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk, dkfordignity@gmail.com

Small traders and hawkers won another battle. This time in Rajasthan. In its fifth budget, Rajasthan’s BJP government has proposed several ’small trader’ friendly proposals - including a four percent tax on fruits and vegetables sold by corporate-run food stores like Reliance Fresh and Spencers. The levy is aimed at protecting street vendors. Prabhulal Saini, Agriculture Minister, Rajasthan said, “Small vendors and traders cannot compete with big retailers. So to bridge this gap and encourage the small traders, we have made a proposal to levy 4% tax. The small vendor should be able to sell vegetables without paying tax, get concessions & earn his livelihood.

In another development, European Union (EU) calls for new supermarkets inquiry. The European Union assembly has this week called for an investigation into the practices of the larger grocery chains across the continent. The assembly said that the EU’s competition body, the European Commission, should intervene to protect consumer choice and the environment.

Reliance is close to signing an agreement with Polo Ralph Lauren, the US-based design and distribution house, known for its range of high-end casual and semi-formal clothings as well as accessories and fragrances under internationally famous luxury labels like Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco, to bring these premium products in India. However, it is noteworthy that only last week, following opposition by the Pacific Heights Neighborhood Association and the Fillmore Merchants Association, the city Planning Commission of San Francisco voted 6-1 to deny Ralph Lauren permission to open a boutique on Fillmore Street. People are battling against Ralph Lauren in San Francisco’s neighborhoods, and Pacific Heights is the front line. Ralph Lauren had signed a lease for 3,500 square feet at 2040 Fillmore St., the former site of Smith & Hawken, another chain store. The New York-based fashion retailer has long wanted to open a shop on Fillmore Street, where upscale national brands like Marc Jacobs, Simon Pearce and Jonathan Adler have rung up success and turned the neighborhood street into a shopping destination where one-off boutiques mingle with national players.  While the Planning Department had recommended the commission approve a conditional use permit for Ralph Lauren, the Fillmore Street Merchants Association has decided to oppose all future chain retail.

Subhiksha, the discount retail chain of India, moves to legal measures to get drugs as drug companies’ are refusing to sell medicines directly to corporate retailers for fear of a boycott by their current retailers and wholesalers. The large drug retailing (5.5 lakh chemists across India) and wholesale industry is extremely well organised and is able to resist corporate hijack through the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. 

In Solidarity!

Dharmendra Kumar

Director

India FDI Watch

M-09871179084

Email:dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk, dkfordignity@gmail.com

Small traders and hawkers won another battle. This time in Rajasthan. In its fifth budget, Rajasthan's BJP government has proposed several 'small trader' friendly proposals - including a four percent tax on fruits and vegetables sold by corporate-run food stores like Reliance Fresh and Spencers. The levy is aimed at protecting street vendors. Prabhulal Saini, Agriculture Minister, Rajasthan said, “Small vendors and traders cannot compete with big retailers. So to bridge this gap and encourage the small traders, we have made a proposal to levy 4% tax. The small vendor should be able to sell vegetables without paying tax, get concessions & earn his livelihood.

In another development, European Union (EU) calls for new supermarkets inquiry. The European Union assembly has this week called for an investigation into the practices of the larger grocery chains across the continent. The assembly said that the EU's competition body, the European Commission, should intervene to protect consumer choice and the environment.

Reliance is close to signing an agreement with Polo Ralph Lauren, the US-based design and distribution house, known for its range of high-end casual and semi-formal clothings as well as accessories and fragrances under internationally famous luxury labels like Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco, to bring these premium products in India. However, it is noteworthy that only last week, following opposition by the Pacific Heights Neighborhood Association and the Fillmore Merchants Association, the city Planning Commission of San Francisco voted 6-1 to deny Ralph Lauren permission to open a boutique on Fillmore Street. People are battling against Ralph Lauren in San Francisco's neighborhoods, and Pacific Heights is the front line. Ralph Lauren had signed a lease for 3,500 square feet at 2040 Fillmore St., the former site of Smith & Hawken, another chain store. The New York-based fashion retailer has long wanted to open a shop on Fillmore Street, where upscale national brands like Marc Jacobs, Simon Pearce and Jonathan Adler have rung up success and turned the neighborhood street into a shopping destination where one-off boutiques mingle with national players. While the Planning Department had recommended the commission approve a conditional use permit for Ralph Lauren, the Fillmore Street Merchants Association has decided to oppose all future chain retail.

Subhiksha, the discount retail chain of India, moves to legal measures to get drugs as drug companies’ are refusing to sell medicines directly to corporate retailers for fear of a boycott by their current retailers and wholesalers. The large drug retailing (5.5 lakh chemists across India) and wholesale industry is extremely well organised and is able to resist corporate hijack through the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.

In Solidarity!

Dharmendra Kumar

Director

India FDI Watch

M-09871179084

Email:dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk, dkfordignity@gmail.com

Small traders and hawkers won another battle. This time in Rajasthan. In its fifth budget, Rajasthan's BJP government has proposed several 'small trader' friendly proposals - including a four percent tax on fruits and vegetables sold by corporate-run food stores like Reliance Fresh and Spencers. The levy is aimed at protecting street vendors. Prabhulal Saini, Agriculture Minister, Rajasthan said, “Small vendors and traders cannot compete with big retailers. So to bridge this gap and encourage the small traders, we have made a proposal to levy 4% tax. The small vendor should be able to sell vegetables without paying tax, get concessions & earn his livelihood.

In another development, European Union (EU) calls for new supermarkets inquiry. The European Union assembly has this week called for an investigation into the practices of the larger grocery chains across the continent. The assembly said that the EU's competition body, the European Commission, should intervene to protect consumer choice and the environment.

Reliance is close to signing an agreement with Polo Ralph Lauren, the US-based design and distribution house, known for its range of high-end casual and semi-formal clothings as well as accessories and fragrances under internationally famous luxury labels like Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco, to bring these premium products in India. However, it is noteworthy that only last week, following opposition by the Pacific Heights Neighborhood Association and the Fillmore Merchants Association, the city Planning Commission of San Francisco voted 6-1 to deny Ralph Lauren permission to open a boutique on Fillmore Street. People are battling against Ralph Lauren in San Francisco's neighborhoods, and Pacific Heights is the front line. Ralph Lauren had signed a lease for 3,500 square feet at 2040 Fillmore St., the former site of Smith & Hawken, another chain store. The New York-based fashion retailer has long wanted to open a shop on Fillmore Street, where upscale national brands like Marc Jacobs, Simon Pearce and Jonathan Adler have rung up success and turned the neighborhood street into a shopping destination where one-off boutiques mingle with national players. While the Planning Department had recommended the commission approve a conditional use permit for Ralph Lauren, the Fillmore Street Merchants Association has decided to oppose all future chain retail.

Subhiksha, the discount retail chain of India, moves to legal measures to get drugs as drug companies’ are refusing to sell medicines directly to corporate retailers for fear of a boycott by their current retailers and wholesalers. The large drug retailing (5.5 lakh chemists across India) and wholesale industry is extremely well organised and is able to resist corporate hijack through the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.

In Solidarity!

Dharmendra Kumar

Director

India FDI Watch

M-09871179084

Email:dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk, dkfordignity@gmail.com

- यह न समझें कि हिन्दी भाषी होने का अर्थ पिछडे होना है

- हिन्दी पाइथन सीखें व सिखाएँ -

- अौर अपने कार्य पर तत्परता से लग जाएँ