CCMDA's plans to hold IT fair gets a jolt

Pooja Sharma

New Delhi: The Chhattisgarh Computers Media Dealers Association's (CCMDA)
plan to organize an IT fair in the month of December has received a jolt even
before it could be executed. It may be noted that the association had planned to
hold the meet this year itself, but members have delayed the plan and will now
reschedule the event sometime next year.

Apparently, there are a number of reasons behind the setback. According to
the association one of the reasons was lack of proper venue to hold the mega
event. The association had planned to hold the event either on Grass Memorial
Ground or Science College in Chhattisgarh, but both these properties were booked
in advance, forcing the association to wait.

Another reason why the committee resolved to postpone the event till next
year is that the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CDIDC)
has floated a number of tenders and partners are busy getting themselves
registered and securing these contracts.

Said Devendra Marwah, President of CCMDA, "All dealers are engaged with the
CSIDC procedures and have no time to participate in the fair. Hence we decided
to postpone the event. We might hold it sometime in the month of March next
year."

Sunil Agarwal, Secretary of CCMDA mentioned that since the venue was not
available and no proper arrangements were in place, the association decided not
to hasten its plans. "We do not want to organize a fair only for the sake of
holding one. Since this time round the grounds that we thought we would hold the
event in, were booked in advance, we had no choice but to back out. This aside
most of the partners are busy with government projects," he opined.

On the other hand, Chetan Vithlani, VP of the association stated that the
working committee is not keen on holding the fair and the lack of enthusiasm has
delayed the annual affair. Not impressed with the way the association is
functioning at the moment, Vithlani has resigned from his post and is now
willing to support the association only as a member.

"I have submitted my resignation and will now continue to support the
association only as a member. I am not willing to be a part of a committee that
is not very active," stated Vithlani.

Surprisingly, the committee is unaware of any such developments. Marwah said,
"I am not aware of any such thing and even if he has put in his papers, we
will not let him leave."

He further added that the association members have not met after Diwali and
meetings will be held shortly to keep all members informed about the association's
activities as well.

Talking about the current lackadaisical nature of the association, Deepak
Vidhani of Raipur-based Infotech Solutions stated that every year around Diwali,
CCMDA would organize a fair, which helped business. But this year they received
no intimation about its cancellation nor was he aware about Vithlani's
resignation.

"Participating in the fair was something that dealers look forward to as it
gives a major boost to their business. Maybe this time the association has been
unable to rope in major vendors, as ultimately they fund such events for us,"
added Vidhani.

It may be noted that the association had plans to invite Microsoft, Epson and
Zenith Computers among other vendors to showcase their products in the fare.