The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Traders’ strike continues

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Sunday, Aug 05, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Traders’ strike continues

Staff Reporter

Massive rally taken out in the city

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Caught in a jam: Traffic was blocked in front of Town Hall in Bangalore on Saturday during a protest by various trade organisations against the amendments to the APMC Act.

Bangalore: The Statewide strike called by the wholesale vegetable traders entered the fourth day on Saturday.

Several protest rallies and demonstrations were held against the amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act.

Traffic was disrupted for a few hours on roads surrounding Town Hall as members of the APMC yards in Yeshwanthpur and Kalasipalyam, Madivala, Malleshwaram and Rice and Grain Merchants’ Association held a massive public meeting there. They also took out a protest rally in support of the agitation.

Demanding that the State Government withdraw the amendments to the APMC Act, the members shouted slogans against the Government.

All wholesale fruit and vegetable shops remained closed and vegetable “mandis” wore a deserted look. The city trades perishable commodities worth about Rs. 15 crore a day.

Russell Market in Shivajinagar remained one of the few places where the vegetable shortage was not much, although the prices of almost all vegetables had more than doubled here. Only cabbage and double beans had resisted the pressure.

While the vendors in Russell Market seemed divided over the idea of joining the strike, they are all biding their time until Monday, by which time their stocks too will also start to diminish.

‘Protective nutrients’

Dr. Lalitha Reddy, nutritionist and professor at the Srimati VHD Central Institute of Home Science, Bangalore, explains that “protective nutrients,” which primarily include vitamins and essential minerals, are essential for everyone.

But a temporary abstinence from vegetables that the strike is likely to create will adversely affect vulnerable groups like pregnant and lactating women, people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders and the elderly.

Pointing out that vegetables are also a great source of roughage, an important propellant for proper bowel movements, Dr. Reddy warns that reaching for the first bottle of synthetic laxative or anti-oxidant supplements might be a bad idea for those suffering from constipation.

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