BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

With the growth of organised trading and an increase in the volume and value of trade and commerce, trade associations have come into existence. In fact the trading community feels it necessary to organise themselves to reap the benefits of collective action. The trade associations are formed to protect the interests of the traders vis-a-vis the government regulations. Their principal aim is to ventilate their grievances to the Government as regards sales tax, restrictions on movement of foodgrains, and the rules governing regulated markets. They also aim at solving the disputes between traders and traders, as well as between traders and agriculturists.

A few trade associations have been established in Yeotmal district during the last few years. The grain merchants association at Wani, which is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, is an important organisation. With a membership of 40 merchants, it is governed by a managing committee. This association books the indents for railway wagons on behalf of the traders, and helps them in getting the required number of wagons. The association is represented on (i) Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee, and (ii) District Food Advisory Committee. Besides this, there are two other associations at Wani, viz., cotton merchants' association and adatya association. Roth these are not registered under any statute.

There is a cotton merchants' association at Yeotmal which is registered and has a membership of about 125 merchants. Every member has to pay an annual fee of Rs. 100. It helps the cotton merchants in solving the various problems faced by the trade, and mediates in the disputes between traders and agricultural sellers.

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