Why is RCTA silent for so long?

Amrita Tejasvi

New Delhi: It has been more than two months since the Rajasthan Computers'
Traders Association (RCTA) was due date for its annual election and there is
still no sign of one happening in the near future. At a time when IT
associations across the country were busy organizing IT expos in their regions
or chalking out plans for conducting one, all it quiet on RCTA's front.

According to members of the association, they have been conducting regular
meets. But they admit that concerns for holding the election or doing any
activity is not being taken seriously.

Commenting on the sluggish status quo of the local body, Hira Singh, Public
Relations Officer of RCTA said, "We are organizing regular meets but due to
some reasons we are unable to take a final decision on election date. There is
state election due which might lead to change in government, so we waiting for
that to get over."

He added that though the association members are in touch with each other,
time constraints and busy business schedules has resulted in a slight delay in
these activities. RCTA is now planning a family get together for its members
soon.

The inactivity in the association is also a result of decreasing interest
from dealers in taking part in any activities planned. Members said that they
are not getting enough time to focus in this direction and that has slowed down
the activities in the association.

"We are actively working to get solutions for the issues that our dealers
face in the market. The reason for not conducting any election is that members
are unable to devote much time and secondly nobody is willing to take
initiatives. Members are not ready to come forward and take charge of the
association," commented Arinjay Jain, Secretary, RCTA.

Jain further said that over the last one year the market has been a bit slow
and customers are not taking much interest in IT expos, as seen from the recent
expos held by government.

"In Jaipur, customers are inclined towards consumer product exhibitions or
cultural fairs. Observing the poor result of expos in near past, the association
is not willing to take the risk," Jain remarked.

Dealers in Jaipur however said it is not slow market but the intention of
getting personal benefits out from the association that has transformed it into
an inactive one. The existing members do not want to make efforts and work for
the welfare of entire channel community, was the general verdict.

One of the premier dealers in Jaipur on condition of anonymity said that the
current office bearers of RCTA are using their positions as a status symbol and
they do want to lose it, due to which they are not conducting elections. He also
added that there is a lot of politics involved and potential dealers in the city
are not eager to join and keep themselves at a distance.

Another dealer in Jaipur said that the association members do not want to
make efforts for channel benefit and this has resulted in decline of interest
among the dealers to participate in the activities.