Chemists hold fast on entry of corporates in retail

Chennai, Aug 10 (UNI) Chemists and druggists in the city today held a token fast demanding promulgation of an Ordinance by the Tamil Nadu Government to prevent entry of national and multinational corporates into retail trade.

About 200 chemists and druggists participated in the fast which was inaugurated by Traders Association Secretary T Vellaiyan.

In his address, Chemists and Druggists Association General Secretary N Balaraja said ''entry of corporates like Reliance and Wal-Mart into sale of medicines will not help the consumers as they would sell medicines in bulk and not in retail numbers like we do.'' With more than 30,000 members, the association was pinning its hopes on the government which alone could bring in a permanent solution to the problems faced by the chemists and druggists involved in retail trade.

The fast was also to urge the state government to take steps to levy four per cent VAT on the manufacturers to help small pharma traders get the benefits of government concessions.

They also wanted the government to constitute a Traders Welfare Ministry to address the problems faced by the retail traders.

UNI