Jammu association revived

Jammu

March 3rd, 2008

In yet another attempt to function as a collective unit and resolve a number
of issues bothering the dealers in the region, Jammu Computer Dealers
Association (JCDA) will be holding its general elections in the first week of
March. It may be noted that this is the third attempt by the dealers in the
region to set-up a committee that will actively voice their concerns. A general
meeting to decide the final names of the candidates for the various posts will
be held prior to the elections.

Confirming the same, Rakesh Badyal, Former VP, JCDA mentioned that there were
a number of reasons for holding the elections. "In the first place, we want
to fill up the vacant seats and revive the association so that the dealer
community can get their issues resolved. Issues like billing, payment and others
keep arising between dealers and vendors on a regular basis and these issues can
be dealt better through the association."

Another task for the newly formed committee will be to resolve the sales tax
issue pertaining to cartridges. Clarifying further, Badyal stated that the
dealers in Jammu have to pay a tax of 12.5 percent on cartridges whereas the
same for the Delhi is four percent. The committee will try and raise the matter
with the government and the vendors so that it can be resolved amicably. In
addition to this, the new committee will also try to talk to the government on
the issue pertaining to setting up a residential colony for IT dealers in Jammu.
"A number of dealers in Jammu are living in rented houses. The real estate
prices are soaring in the region and hence the association will approach the
government and request them to allocate a space for the IT dealers so that they
can have their own houses in the space allotted on a subsidized basis."

Badyal further added that innumerable IT companies were heading towards Jammu
and this implies that there is ample scope for the dealers to expand their
business further.

"Compared to the last five to six years a number of companies and
distributors like Ingram Micro, Redington and Compuage have been setting up
their offices in the region. The scenario has undergone a drastic change but a
lot still needs to be done," he opined.

Apparently, prior to this the dealers were unwilling to participate in the
activities organized by the association, owing to a number of reasons. Firstly
the membership fee (Rs 10,000) was too high for the dealers to bear and the
association was not looking at issues actively, following which the dealers did
not take much interest. Reacting to this Badyal said, "We have reduced the
membership fee to Rs 1,000. With this reduction, we will have even more dealers
participating."

Close to 80 members are expected to be a part of the elections this year.

Naveen Sharma, CEO, S&S Computers stated, "I have not received any
notification so far but if the association is being formed again it will be in
favor of the dealers. The committee will have to take up issues related to
billing, taxation among others on a priority basis because geographically Jammu
is very different from the other regions and the margins we earn are almost
negligible. We need to protect our interest."