Lack of unity hurting Chennai resellers

Chennai, which has emerged as a significant player in the IT market, has four associations. And all four claim to be working in
the interest of  resellers and trading community. However, these associations, represented by
its members, have failed to meet regularly and it has been several months since they have discussed any issue of common interest. Be it Information
Technology Traders Association (ITTA), G-10 Computer Dealers Association, Sneham or Chennai Inkjet & Toner Refillers Association (CITRA) the story
remains the same.

In Chennai, Dealers Association for Information Technology (DAIT) was supposed to be the first regional association for dealer community started
as early as 1993. In fact, DAIT was formed when the resellers decided to break away from CMDA, the Mumbai-based association with its Tamil Nadu
chapter in Chennai. However, DAIT lost its steam within six years. Post 2000, many new associations have come into existence. 

"Vested interest is the reason for disunity and misunderstanding amongst the channel partners. There is no consensus on anything here," lamented
president of DAIT Nimish Tolia. While the industry believes DAIT is non-existent, he claims
otherwise. "DAIT has not been closed, it is inactive. Its bank account is operational," he informed. For the record,
DAIT met last in 2001 for an informal gathering in a city hotel. 

Similarly, ITTA, Sneham and CITRA are in the silent mode. ITTA, which formed an election committee about four months
back, is yet to move ahead on that front. This association was formed in 1998, got registered in 2001 and is
awaiting formal election for quite sometime now. It's first set of representatives, nominated in 2001, still hold office and the association

hardly meets. "People think of the association only when there is an issue and after that, they forget it," pointed out secretary of ITTA MC
Jain. 

"There is no unity and discipline amongst the members. In fact, vendors want this situation to continue so that they can rule over the channel community. 

The channel community lacks commitment," added joint secretary of ITTA Sajan
Kankaria.

"I think instead of key resellers the association should have many elderly members (fathers of resellers) who can find time to work for common cause.
Also, channel business is pressure-oriented and resellers are finding it hard to take out time to attend meetings," commented a key reseller in the
Ritchie Street market.

Sneham, an association for system integrators formed last year, had its last meeting a year back during the 'credit policy' issue
started by the distributors. "We had planned to meet every month, but somehow it is not
happening as our businesses takes all our time. We are also supposed to go for an election this month," disclosed Sadiq Batcha, a key member of the
association.

"We have just got registered and soon we will launch a major drive to acquire new members. Sneham will be a very active association soon," said
informed secretary of Sneham Sridharan. Meanwhile, CITRA can safely be considered as non-existent as it has been a few years since it formally met.

G-10, a body that represents consumables resellers and has over 150 members across Tamil Nadu, is the only association where some action is happening.

The association had its last monthly meeting in April. "All the key members have been traveling and busy with work, so we could not meet. But, in
general, G-10 is very committed. In fact, I presume G-10 is the only association which collects a fine of Rs 100 for absence and late-entry to
meetings," pointed out G-10 Computer Dealers Association joint secretary Naresh
Kanted.

"However, we have been able to achieve only 50 percent to 60 percent of the objectives we had set. That needs to change,"
added president of G-10 Jithender Tatia. According to him, there should be more unity among members
while boycotting a vendor or supplier for a specific reason. Similarly information sharing on defaulters should happen faster to benefit all.

CyberMedia News

S Gopikrishna

Chennai