The Hindu Business Line : FDI in retail

The article "A question of jobs, not ownership" (Business Line, September 29) rightly lays emphasis on the jobs that will be created as a result of the ownership.

With supermarkets today offering everything from pin to pistol under one roof, the disappearance of the local kiranas will be sooner than expected.

Mumbai has already launched a heavy campaign to root out hawkers. Uprooting the vast mass of unorganised retailers would mean their complete alienation from the State.

An integrated approach to the entire food chain is needed instead of compartmentalised decision-making on opening retail trade to FDI.

At any rate, one cannot justify opening retail to FDI on the grounds of its employment generating potential.

This couldn't be further from the truth. A consensus is possible if the government puts down its vision in a comprehensible manner, not viewing the matter from the myopic angle of profit.

S. Subramanyan

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