The lecture was a part of the third edition
of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat - Vocal for Local – Moving towards Self-Reliant
· Standardisation
and quality control can capture both domestic and global consumer
· Government
should incentivise manufacturers by rewarding good manufacturing and
distribution practices
· Crucial to
maintain inventory of existing industries to be able to map potential for
domestic production of products that are generally imported
The
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the
apex trade associations of India in association with ITC Sunfeast concluded the
third edition of its Wisdom Series lecture titled ‘Role of Consumer
Voice’ on the theme of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat - Vocal for Local
– Moving towards Self-Reliant India’. The event saw an expert panel
consisting of Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, International Consumer Policy
expert, Shri Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General,
Confederation of All India Traders and Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM FMCG
Brand Promotion and Protection Council holding an insightful
discussion on retail chain utilisation, quality control of products and role of
small and medium-sized enterprises to promote local MSMEs and industries to
achieve a self-reliant India.
Highlighting the crucial
role played by retail traders in pushing the agenda of Vocal for Local, Mr.
Praveen Khandelwal said, “Traders can play a major role here as
He further added on how
liberating traders from license raj can propel consumption, “Today if you want
to start a business or manufacture a product, then you need 28 types of
licenses. How can manufacturers plan to produce if they have to get 28
licenses? Most of these licenses are redundant and they have been existing
since pre-Independence era. The producing sector should be liberated to the
extent that it becomes easy for the sector to concentrate on producing more and
not put their mind on how to reduce costs. They need to be given freedom from
the command of multiple authorities.”
Furthering the discussion
by focusing on how small traders in the value chain can be amply used to
realise the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Mr. Bejon Kumar Misra said, “There
should be an inventory of the existing industries we have, their capacities,
their core competencies and what are the other applications of their skills.
Then we need to have an inventory list of products that are being imported but
can also be manufactured domestically. Once these two lists are matched and
steps like incentivising small scale manufacturers, linking of medium-scale
manufacturers to large-scale manufacturers by becoming an ancillary part of
them in terms of outsourcing and sub-contracting are taken then am sure
that we will be able to utilise a lot of unexplored capacities. In order to
utilise the full potential of small manufacturers, they need to be helped which
means our internal procurement system, be it government or private, must
develop a good supply chain.”
Both the experts agreed
that there needs to be a standardization of manufactured products to encourage
domestic and global consumption. Mr. Bejon Misra in this regard said, “The
cornerstone of Aatmanirbhar Bharat is quality. We must bring in standards and
regulations that assure the consumer of quality and safety. If we want to
become a manufacturing hub then we need to bring in the best quality of the
world in the goods manufactured in
Mr Anil Rajput,
Chairman, ASSOCHAM FMCG Brand Promotion and Protection Council while moderating the discussion presented
insightful questions before the panellists and highlighted the role of
consumers in promoting domestic consumption. “The recent pandemic has brought
many changes in consumer behaviour and their pattern. While shopping malls and
multiplexes were closed, small grocery shop and vegetable and fruit vendors
delivered essential items at the doorstep of every citizen’s houses. This led
to citizens opting for small grocery stores and vendors selling goods nearby
their living area and saw many businesses reinvent their products, services and
distribution channel. This shows that consumers have a very important role to
play to make the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat successful by promoting local
products and increasing use of Indian products. This is an opportunity for
local brands to establish themselves well in local markets and then promulgate
at national and international levels.”