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On 3^rd June 2013, Govt. of India defined Group firms as two or more enterprises that directly or indirectly are in a position to exercise 26% or more voting rights in the other enterprise or appoint more than 50% members on board of directors in the other enterprise.

Amidst widespread opposition to the Walmart’s backdoor entry of FDI in Multibrand retail (through Bharti-Walmart, the 50:50 joint venture between Walmart and Bharti for operating Cash-and-carry outlets in India), in April 2010 Govt. of India framed a policy that asked cash-and-carry businesses (Bharti-Walmart) to limit their sale to group firms at 25 per cent of their turnover. In absence of clear definition of what group firms meant Bharti-Walmart’s cash & carry business (20 Best Price Stores) continued to sale almost 85% of their products to Bharti Retail’s 200 Easy Day stores.

Now, Bharti-Walmart will either have to limit its sale to Easy Day to 25 per cent of its turnover or restructure its corporate structure.

The Union Cabinet has approved the revised Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2013, a legislation to protect the livelihood of street vendors and provide them more legal vending space in urban areas.

Once it becomes law, unabated harassment of street vendors and hawkers and their extortion by police and municipal officials will hopefully end. As demanded by the Hawkers Joint Action Committee, Mr. Ajay Maken, the central minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation has fixed the norms for providing vending/hawking licences to 2.5% of city population. The reworked Bill makes it mandatory to form town and zonal vending committee in every city. Such committees would include 40% elected representatives of vendor groups, 10% NGOs and rest comprising town planners, administrators, police and elected people’s representatives.

Leaders of hawkers Joint Action Committee honoured the central minister for getting the revised bill approved from the cabinet and asked to table it before the parliament as soon as possible. The minister has assured the Hawkers delegation that the bill will be introduced to the parliament sooner than later.

http://india.nydailynews.com/politicsarticle/b530744cb07cc55a4e65ee1f69187d97/people-should-oppose-fdi-in-retail-mahasweta-devi

Kolkata, May 21 — Supporting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to withdraw from the UPA last September on the issue of FDI in retail, eminent writer Mahasweta Devi Tuesday exhorted people from all walks of life to protest against the measure.

“Of course, I support our chief minister’s decision to withdraw from the centre on FDI. I think everybody should protest against it. People from all walks of life should contribute in their own way in standing up against it,” Mahasweta Devi said while launching a book “FDI-Gobhir Shorjontror Shikar Aamra” (FDI-We are a target of conspiracy).

The 89-year-old Jnanpith awardee suggested tapping into indigenous resources for India’s growth and development.

“We have sufficient resources. If we use them properly then India can walk on a path of progress and development,” she said.

Mahasweta Devi said she was “somewhat satisfied” with the state government’s stance on introduction of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.

Commending the Trinamool Congress for “trying” to bring about changes during its two years in power, she said it is too early to comment on its impact.

“It’s too early to comment. It has just completed two years. It hasn’t done too good or anything worth praising nor it has done anything bad worth criticising.

“It’s trying… let’s just say that,” she added.

Trinamool Congress Monday completed two years in power in West Bengal.