Retailers, chemists’ bandh put people to inconvenience
Lakhs of retail outlets remained closed in the State as they joined a nationwide strike on Friday protesting against the Union Government’s decision of allowing 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Indian market.
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Odisha chapter, president Sudhakar Panda said that around 6.35 crore retailers across the country, including 20 lakh in Odisha, joined the stir.
Panda said the association demands cancellation of the permission for FDI in the retail sector as it would affect the livelihoods of lakhs of people in the country.
Similarly on the day, 4,000 medicine wholesaler points and 22,000 retail outlets across the State remained shut as the Utkal Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association (UCDA) extended support to the nationwide strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
The chemists protested against the Centre’s decision to allow operation of e-pharmacies.
However, the drug stores located inside the medical colleges and Government-run hospitals remained open as they were excluded from the purview of the strike.
“We strongly oppose the Centre’s move to bring in online pharmacies. The association would resort to an indefinite strike if the demands are not met at the earliest,” said UCDA general secretary Prashant Mohapatra said.
E-pharmacy would largely affect the livelihood of lakhs of chemists’ families, besides depriving people access to good quality medicines, he added.
However, the retailers and chemists shutdown put the people in great convenience. Huge rush was witnessed particularly in the few medicine shops that remained open.