Rajasthan resellers form new association

As the digital divide gets smaller in the regional areas of India, the

solidarity for these communities are becoming evident as the time moves by.

RAIT's (Rajasthan Association of Information Technology) reformation into RCTA (Rajasthan

Computer Traders Association) has been a major step towards this quest in

Rajasthan. This reincarnated body came into being this July end, and now has its

work in full throttle to consolidate the IT traders' community here.

The new body in place is all ready to make the IT trading in Rajasthan more

organized and lucrative. According to this association, there are close to 800

authorized traders across the state dealing in IT-related products. Some of them

are working according to the regulatory laws and some surpass the laws for some

short gains.

As per Kailash Gupta, Secretary, RCTA, "RAIT was an association which

was covering the whole spectrum of IT-related industry. It was about time we

should have consolidated and focussed our approach towards the betterment of the

traders. Thus, its name was made more accurate and descriptive." The body's

plans are very aggressive and down right practical, he added.

The rebirth was marked by the election, where a total of 108 traders had cast

their votes for various posts. Six members constitute the Executive Body.

President is Rupesh Kedia of The Computer Super Market, VP is Nishchal Sidana of

Expert Computers, Secretary is Kailash Gupta of ETSC Computers Pvt Ltd, Joint

Secretary is Sharat Totuka of Lexical Systems, Treasurer is Ashwani Goel of

Intecon Computers Pvt Ltd, and the PRO is Deepak Sharda of Sharda Systems and

Services.

There are various issues which RCTA wants to address, but to start with it

has four issues to attack very aggressively. These issues range from

bureaucratic mishaps to daily activities' loopholes. The fly-by-night operators

in this trade is also a menace according to Gupta in this region. He also finds

the lack of a proper regulatory body a reason for all these issues being present

in the state.

Sales Tax anomalies is a major issue which has been evading a long lasting

solution, according to RCTA. Not only do the traders face a brutal harassment

from the bureaucracy, but also pays the tax twice over after assembling the PCs.

One has to pay four percent sales tax when he buys products to assemble a PC,

and charges four percent over and above the total cost as the Sales Tax from the

buyer, thus further escalating the prices. This has made PCs in this region very

costly according to the local operators. As per RCTA this is the most urgent and

important issue that needs to be tackled.

Unregistered resellers and traders are on a growth path as per RCTA, and

weeding them out is also an issue which falls in their hit list. As Gupta

pointed out, "These traders make the whole cash flow broken and which

results in a huge block in cash flow. And further carrying on a chain-reaction

and blocking payments of various innocent traders." He added that these

defaulters are creating a bad practice in the industry, which is yet to become

very successful in this area. And these kinds of incidences can really mar the

prospects.

A lot of new MNCs and corporate are finding Rajasthan as a lucrative

infrastructural base, and are moving in. Thus, the infrastructure business

especially in terms of IT-related is growing by leaps and bounds. Tapping this

huge opportunity is a very crucial issue according to RCTA, which wants to

approach it very safely and concretely.

Creating a common platform to address various trade-related issue is also a

concern for the new office bearers. As of now there are close to 800 traders in

Rajasthan--some registered and some unregistered. Bringing them to a common

grounds of work is also a tough job in row for it.

Curbing grey marketing for various PC products is also on the cards, but

sales tax issue is at priority as per Gupta.

Talking about the plan of action, besides these agendas, they have an

extended list with themselves.

The registration process is in full speed, with a target of registering at

least 500 members by this December. As of now RCTA has a total of 108 registered

members. It is also providing a 'certificate of membership' to prove the

genuineness of a particular reseller, distributor or dealer.

It also has plans to publish a news magazine for the community and also to

create a directory of various traders in the region. Hosting of IT-related shows

in the region is also on the cards. Elaborated Gupta, "No doubt, there have

been a lot of exhibitions and related events, but none of them has been able to

gather the related audience. Our endeavor will be to create a platform for

traders and end consumers to be mutually profitable."

With these plans in hand, RCTA has a long trail to be on. Rajasthan has been

growing lately as a lucrative IT spot and grow is the only word for this

industry. Surely the number of traders will increase, especially with various

vendors moving very aggressively in Rajasthan.