Hi Manoj:
I understand your reaction to "PSU Bashing". Yes, PSUs can indeed be
very useful productive instruments. Where Dilip went wrong was in
clubbing ALL PSUs together as useless entities. That is an American
capitalist oversimplification. What he probably should have focused
on is where and how PSUs fail to deliver. And they differ from
undertaking to undertaking. It is one thing about the chances of
success involving an oil refinery, whose products should have no
problem selling. All it needs to do is produce and competitively. It
is a wholly different matter if it is a public health-care facility
or a en educational undertaking or a vocational training facility or
a handicraft promotional operation.
NEDFI's 'haat' concept does sound good. Those of us who are familiar
with a 'haat' , a 'bazaar' know that it is a dynamic, vibrant and
effective place for commerce that evolved over millenia and continue
to
serve a third of humanity.
Question is IF NEDFI Haat at Guwahati operates like a 'haat'. I would
submit it does not. It is not even close. There must be a number of
reasons. As a transient visitor, obviously I am not in a position to
analyze it in depth. But I can list what I noticed and you, the
experts can then see if you can translate into cause and effect and
remedies, if possible. But be prepared to face the fact that there
might not be any remedy to the concept or its weaknesses.
I have been to the NEDFI Haat at Guahati four times in about five
years. I forget the details of the first. The second time it was
holding a FAIR where there were a number of vendors from many ethnic
efforts and many crafts operated stalls and we bought a number of
things. Some hang in our house today. There were many fine quality
and otherwise unique products. The assembly WAS like a haat. The
stall owners ( or at least operators) were ALIVE and they tried to
make a sale. It was mostly outdoors and BRIGHT. Goods hanged in the
bright sunlight and were attractively displayed. Sales people did not
appear dead. A smiling and eager to sell attendant continued to be a
rarity, but they did try to make the sale. There must have been some
incentive to make a few rupees.
The third time also it seemed to be doing OK. There were a variety of
goods. There were a couple of expert artisans featured outdoors who
showed how they made some of their creations and sold them too. There
was a sense of activity and liveliness.
This last time it looked DEAD. The stalls looked virtually the same.
The well dressed young women behind the counters looked at customers
pass by, but they appeared to be in no need to make a sale.
Never mind the smiling face. Indians obviously are not up to it yet
culturally; no doubt due to the fear that a smiling woman would
automatically mean a sexual come -on. It speaks more about the men
than the women. The dimly lit environment is NEVER a good place to
either display or perform sales of items that are non-essential. The
one or two bamboo and cane goods stalls had the same old poorly made
junk, churned out obviously by people who had neither the skills nor
the passions for making them. Again it speaks of the QUALITY of the
MANAGERS or their OWN TASTES and SKILLS. Far better goods are to be
seen on roadside stalls in small towns on the highway or in open air
haats in the hinterland.
Quality of the goods are good as far as fabrics are concerned.
Everything else is forgettable if not outright garbage. If I were to
be the king of Assam, I would BAN the production of the red felt
trimmed jaapis that have come to represent a debased state of
Oxomiya craftsmanship and culture. They represent the most atrocious
of craftsmanship and design, and is a DISGRACE to Oxomiya culture,
craftsmanship and aesthetics. Just like the very poorly crafted
Xoraais do. As a child I remember seeing far higher quality of
craftsmanship all around us. But they are long gone from the
Indianized plains. What remains of it can be seen today only in the
back country homes of indigenous folks like we saw among the Monpas
at Tawang , at Dirang.
Ultimately the sorry and disgraced state of the Oxomiya crafts
reflect NOT on the producers as much as it does on those who are
expected to be its patrons: The Middle Class consumers, their TASTE
and aesthetic sense or expectation of quality and their willingness
)(( or absence of it) to PAY for QUALITY.
The result is can be seen everywhere in its continued downhill trajectory.
c-da
At 11:09 AM +0530 11/18/07, Manoj Das wrote:
One disease in this forum is - we jump into conclusions without
knowing the facts.
PSU bashing is the latest hobby for many. But let me tell you,
Indian PSUs have repositioned and refashioned to compete the best in
the world. I am proud to be a part of the PSUs, who are creating
wealth for the nation.
NEDFi is the only PSU doing such developmental activities in the
country, now. In fact after IDBI has converted itself into a bank,
it is the only such organisation left.
NEDFi Haat participants get chance to participate in IITF to get a
feel of the national market.. then on we give them chance to
participate in Aggressive International Marketing Project for NER
and enrich their product competitiveness by infusing design inputs
by engaging world class designers from Philippines. Many of our
participants of 2003 batch are now exporters. If you want to know
from them directly, I'll give you their emails. M'da has
participated in Autumn Fair at India Exposition Mart. He may share
his experience, and tell us scopes for improvement.
We are not claiming to be perfect here. Your inputs will definitely
help us to improve. Only request is not to hang us ex-parte.
Cheers!!!
-mkd
On Nov 17, 2007 10:18 PM, Dilip/Dil Deka <
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
The bane of public sector versus boon of private sector? Probably
the brain behind the Haat got a promotion and moved off, and now the
concept does not have a champion.
A government cannot be expected to run a business. PDVSA of
Venezuela and PEMEX of Mexico are good examples of what happens when
government starts running business.
Dilip
mc mahant <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Reasons:
No chain of demand on PERFORMANCE:
By anybody
At any level.
Maybe termed "Total lack of Accountability". What is Target?What was
actual achieved?
Need smaller autonomous focussed groups- again under demand on performance.
Automatic checks on performance.
Upgradation/Degradation of personnel without any fuss.
Top to bottom.
Otherwise remain a fourth grade nation- by Choice!
mm
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:20:22 -0600
To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Assam] NEDFi Haat at India International Trade Fair'07
Hi Manoj:
What do you know about the state of affairs at Nedfi Haat at
Guahati? We were there two weeks back, and it appeared as though it
has shrunk, its vendors' product quality gone down and it
definbitely reduced in diversity. I was disappointed and depressed.
Something is seriously wrong with the whole concept. It should have
become more vibrant. But it looked tired, ready to expire. Just like
Cottage Industries' Emporium at Dilli, which too has gone down in
quality and diversity.
c-da
At 6:22 AM +0530 11/17/07, Manoj Das wrote:
NEDFi has put up a pavilion like previous years at hall no. 1 to
display exquisite products from NER.
Please pay a visit to encourage our 35 exhibitors.
For your information, there is no business hour and entry is open
for general public from 10-8. The fair will close on 27th Nov.
Warm regards
-m k das-
pavilion director
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