In a significant move highlighting the growing distress among brick-and-mortar businesses, a prominent traders' body from Indore has directly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urgent intervention. The Ahilya Chambers of Commerce and Industry has written a letter seeking immediate steps to regulate the practices of major e-commerce platforms, which they blame for severely damaging the city's traditional market ecosystem.
Uneven Playing Field: Local Shops vs. Deep-Pocketed Platforms
The core grievance outlined in the letter revolves around what traders describe as an "uneven playing field." Akshay Jain, the joint secretary of the chamber, explained the fundamental disparity. He stated that traditional shopkeepers operate with significant fixed overheads including rent, electricity, various taxes, and employee wages. In contrast, large online platforms, bolstered by massive investments and foreign capital, can sustain prolonged periods of aggressive price undercutting.
This financial muscle, according to the traders, is deployed through aggressive discounting, cashback offers, and price dumping. These tactics have led to a dramatic decline in customer footfall across Indore's once-bustling wholesale and retail hubs. The direct consequence has been a worrying trend of shop closures and intensifying pressure on the livelihoods of local business owners.
A Call for Stringent Policy and Trader Protection
The chamber's letter is not merely a complaint but includes specific demands for a regulatory framework. The traders' body has called for the establishment of a clear and stringent policy to govern online business operations. Their key proposals include:
- Imposing curbs on unlimited discounts and predatory price dumping practices.
- Implementing concrete protection measures for small and medium traders.
- Ensuring consultations with ground-level trade organizations before any new regulations are finalized.
Ramesh Khandelwal, President of the Ahilya Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the scale of the challenge. He pointed out that e-commerce platforms and large retail chains have now captured a substantial share of the nation's consumer market. "It has become next to impossible for small retailers, including kirana and cosmetics shops, to match the prices offered by online players," Khandelwal said. He warned that the rapid spread of unregulated e-commerce is not only taking away jobs but also pushing a vast number of small retailers out of business.
Wider Economic Implications for Indore
The chamber concluded its appeal with a stark warning about the potential ripple effects. They cautioned that continued inaction from policymakers could have wider negative implications for Indore's local economy. The survival of countless small businesses, which form the backbone of the city's commercial landscape and provide significant employment, is perceived to be at stake.
This direct appeal to the Prime Minister underscores the escalating tension between India's rapidly digitalizing retail sector and its vast network of traditional physical markets. The traders of Indore are now anxiously awaiting a response, hoping for policy measures that could level the competitive field.
