K'taka Business Forum formed to fight for rights

Bangalore, Dec 5: The business community in the state have come together under one umbrella called 'Federation of Karnataka Business Forum', to fight for the rights, end red-tapism and corruption at the government level, which was adversely affecting the community.

Briefing newspersons about the initiative here last night, Forum President Dayananda said various major traders' bodies like industry, transportation, builders and developers, fruits and vegetable merchants associations would come under one roof to unitedly assert their rights.

"In spite of express provisions of laws enacted by the State and Central governments, the business community has been forced to appease the authorities, suffer indignity and lose time in persuit of long and complicated procedures. Hence we have formed the Forum which can represent the whole business community of the state to help businessmen," he said.

Forum Vice President Shanmugappa said there were 3400 associations formed by various trades and businesses in Karnataka and the forum aimed to bring all these bodies together. The state had six lakh merchants, 3.25 lakh small scale industrialists and 1.75 truck owners. All these people would now come under one umbrella, he claimed.

Mr Dayananda said the Forum which would appoint an expert group comprising of top retired government officials to help businessmen.

It would also help the business community to face the global challenges such as WTO, FDI and problems being faced by the community due to entry of MNCs.

UNI