Traders suffer the most from bandhs

PATNA: It is bandh galore in Bihar. Announcements are regularly being made on loudspeakers regarding the bandh called on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday by different political parties. The first bandh has been called by the NDA, CPI and CPM while the second by the CPI(ML) and the third by the RJD-LJP alliance. This is apart from the frequent bandhs called by Maoists which has left rail passengers in panic.
The bandhs not only force closure of schools and slow down traffic, they hit the business community the most.
The business community appears weary about repeated bandhs. “No matter how pious the motive of the bandh is, frequent bandhs tend to slow down economic activities in the state. It usually takes two to three days to get economic activities back to normal,” remarked Bihar Chamber of Commerce president P K Agarwal.
“Every section of the business community is hit by bandhs right from the hawkers to the big business houses. If vandalism takes place during the bandh, it is again the business community which suffers,” remarked prominent businessman O P Sah.
The business community points out that since the target as far as commercial taxes is concerned for the current financial year is around Rs 7,500 crore, the total VAT collection per day will be around Rs 25 crore. “This implies that business transaction to the tune of Rs 200 to Rs 300 crore is lost on a bandh day,” pointed out Agarwal.
There are some sectors whose losses are irretrievable like the daily wage earners who work in the business establishments and lose their earnings during bandh. The hotel and transport sectors is another area which face loss. “Those planning to come to Bihar postpone their visit. The bookings in hotels decline a day before the bandh and one day after,” remarked a hotelier.
Political parties continue to assert their right to call a bandh. “It is our responsibility to take up the issue to the people,” remarked RJD secretary general Ram Kripal Yadav, stressing that the call given by his party for bandh in the past had the support of the people. Irrespective of the party tag, all politicians defend bandhs.
“At the micro level, bandhs hit economic activities in the state. It brings to a standstill work and production. But bandhs are political and social action. The inflation is touching double digit and food inflation is touching 17 per cent and the government is not responding. There is no alternative before political parties than to call a bandh,” remarked professor of economics, Patna University, Nawal Kishore Choudhary. “I wish bandhs could have been avoided.
But the government and opposition parties have to share the blame,” he added.