[Reader-list] Shiva Sena selling veggies for no-profit

[taraprakash]

That sounds socialist in nature. I'd like to see some competition there. The 
way these parties mint money, they can afford to sell them for free.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Javed" <javedmasoo at gmail.com>
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:29 AM
Subject: [Reader-list] Shiva Sena selling veggies for no-profit


> Eyeing vote gain, Shiv Sena sells veggies at no-profit-no-loss rates
>
> Mon, Aug 3 06:34 AM
>
> After the drubbing it received in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the
> Thane unit of the Shiv Sena is now selling vegetables, at almost half
> the market rates.
>
> The idea is to turn the tide in its favour in the Assembly elections.
> The party hopes to do that by banking on an issue that is hurting
> people's pockets — rising veggie prices.
>
> In the Lok Sabha elections, the Sena fared poorly in Thane and lost a
> seat to the NCP. Selling vegetables is an attempt by the party to woo
> back voters weaned away by Raj Thackeray's MNS. Presence of MNS
> candidates in the fray was perceived as one reason why the Sena did
> not do well in the general elections in Thane as well as Mumbai, where
> it did not win even one seat
>
> The move is also aimed at targeting the state government over the
> soaring vegetable prices in the month of Shravan.
>
> Ever since the initiative was inaugurated by Sena executive president
> Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi on July 27, the party has been selling
> vegetables. Within the municipal limits of Thane city, Shiv Sena is
> operating 17 outlets located in, or near, the party offices known as
> Shakhas.
>
> "Vegetables are directly procured from farmers in Pune and Nashik and
> sold at the cost price. Transportation expenses are borne by Sainiks
> who have pooled in money for the scheme," said Eknath Shinde,
> legislator and Sena's Thane district chief.
>
> The popularity of the scheme can be gauged from the fact that
> vegetable stocks are sold out in a matter of hours. The outlets which
> are the first to receive the supply open at 8 am and others start sale
> a couple of hours later, and the counters are empty by noon.
>
> Cauliflower, which is averaging about Rs 40-44 per kg in the market,
> is being sold at Rs 10-14 per kg, cabbage at Rs 8-12, carrot at Rs 12,
> ladyfinger at Rs 20 and capsicum at Rs 20.
>
> All agriculture produce has to be sold to wholesalers through the
> Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) but the party is
> circumventing the system to keep rates as low as possible.
>
> Shinde explained that they are able to sell at almost half the market
> prices as government agencies and middlemen have been bypassed.
>
> When pointed out that as per APMC regulations it is illegal to bring
> vegetables directly for sale, Shinde said : "Let the (authorities)
> prevent us from supplying affordable vegetables to people."
>
> "The price of vegetables sold by us averages about Rs 12-20 per kg
> which is nearly half the market price," said a party worker manning
> the sale counters at Tembi Naka.
>
> Shinde said pulses such as red gram (toor dal) and lentil would also
> be made available at subsidised rates.
>
> This initiative has been tailormade for the traditional vote-bank of
> the Sena, Hindus, particularly people from the Marathi community.
>
> Shravan is a month of abstinence from non-vegetarian food in the Hindu
> calendar, and this period always witnesses a peak in the prices of
> vegetables. The astronomical hike in the prices of vegetables has been
> attributed to the poor rainfall.
>
> http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090803/814/tnl-eyeing-vote-gain-shiv-sena-sells-veg.html
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