The road ahead for ITDAS

Shortly after being elected as the new president of Siliguri based IT Dealers Association (ITDAS), Rajesh Rathi of Shri Rathi Retail has clearly laid down a comprehensive agenda for his annual tenure wherein, instead of maximising membership, the association is poised to focus over better connectivity amidst its members as well as take up trade issues.

The first priority for Rathi is in facilitating better communications among its members and evolve ITDAS into a "family" instead of keeping it mere dealer clusters. In this initiative, ITDAS has proposed in setting up Centrex for its members wherein members will have the option of connecting each other over the phone similar to that of a conference call or intercom facility. Also, a new website launch for the association is in the pipeline.

"My intention is not to simply launch a webpage of the association and list its members and issue notices. The website, besides the regular and necessary features will help in peer-building for our members. It will have automated calendars which will record and keep track of birthdays, anniversaries and all which will induce a personal touch amidst the members", Rathi said.

Besides, as a member strengthening exercise, ITDAS will be soon issuing membership certificates which are to be taken up in the next meeting of the association, scheduled on July 7. Also, introduction of an electronic monthly circular is in his mind which will have detailed information over the members and a monthly update over the region.

Post the success of the last expo, ITDAS has claimed to be having surplus cash at hand which is likely to be used for a new office set-up.

"So long, our meetings take place in somebody's office premises or hotels. I think it is time now that we push for our own office where we can have these meetings, gatherings and all. Having an own office is absolutely necessary", he added.

The next set of priorities for the new president is to enhance insurance support and accidental insurances for members and employees (of members) has been proposed. The insured amount is likely to be Rs. 2 lakhs for the members and group accidental insurance schemes will be introduced for the employees.

Expos have remained a priority in north Bengal despite the fall in popularity of this kind of trade event across India. ITDAS is likely to work on its organizing capabilities for the upcoming expo in February, 2013 and Rathi is eager to start working over it at an early stage. A carnival involving some of the members is also likely and already Vishant Choudhary, vice president, ITDAS has been appointed as the chairman for the carnival committee.

Moving over to the trade aspect, ITDAS will be shortly coming up with a dealer workshop over service issues as a move to educate its partners better about the raging issue.

"Service issues has been plaguing the channels for long and it is time to address the issue. I am planning to hold a workshop for the members wherein issues pertaining to dealers and end-users will also be discussed and taken up for better resolution", he added.

Also, the issue of Kolkata based companies allegedly eating into the local market and the supposed trade malpractices are likely to be addressed soon to CIITA.

Rathi was elected the president of ITDAS on June 10 following the executive committee meeting.

Presently, ITDAS has 78 members.