Whos theWeakest Link?

Do you know how many associations there are in North India? Almost 24, give
or take a few. From big cities like Delhi (which has three associations), Jaipur,
Amritsar to towns like Yamunagar and Karnal, all boast of associations,
espousing the cause of channel partners.

But do we really hear them doing anything substantial? Do they take the lead
in raising issues that are plaguing the channel partner community? Not likely.
Whenever any big issue comes up, chances are that associations from South or
West of the country will be the flag bearers. Confed-ITA, TAIT, CMDA-Pune, have
done some truly wonderful work for the channel community as a whole, taking up
issues, tackling vendors head on, are just some of the things that these
associations have been doing for a long time. They have been devoting time and
energy for making the channel business ecosystem much better.

In stark contrast situation up North is almost tragic; the personal gains,
chasing business, and simply plain lack of interest have ensured that most of
these associations exist only on paper. Its not like business is not happening
down South or West but the tendency to focus more on the business is very
evident in the North. Greater common good is just not something that these
associations believe in. Living in here and now is what seems to be the mantra
for most associations.

Status Check

In the annual ranking that DQ Channels does of associations across the
country, most North associations did not make a mark. In fact, a small
association like YITA (Yavatmal IT Association) was way ahead of big
associations like Delhi-based Progressive Channel Association of Information
Technology (PCAIT), Rajasthan Computer Traders Association (RCTA) or Lucknow
Computer Vyapar Mandal (LCVM), which by the way was, right at the bottom of the
rung.

Some saving grace was provided by Delhi-based CMDA (Computer Media Dealers
Association) which figured at number four while Jalandhar Computer Dealers
Association (JCDA) notched up at number five. Panipat Computer Dealers
Association (PCDA) also managed to land in the top 10. So, it is left for this
troika to keep the active association in the North flag flying. A sorry state of
affairs considering the sheer number of channel partners that operate in the
region and that Delhi is also home to Asiaa largest hub of IT channel
partners-courtesy Nehru Place.

Delhi Belly

So what ails associations in the North? Its the affliction that is rampant
across the region and the reason why most associations are completely
inactiveno commitment to the cause.

Take the example of PCAIT. A year after the association was formed, it was in
full flow, taking up issues, holding meetings, trying to tie up with other
associations across North to build a strong lobby to protect interests. Then as
the novelty wore off, the association went downhill. Everyone in the executive
committee had business interests that conflicted with the associations
activities and so PCAIT went on a backburner and then just came to a standstill.

In the last one year PCAIT has been completely silent. The last time an AGM
was held was in January 2007, which is more than a year ago. Also while the
association charter says that a meeting of the executive council has to be held
every month, according to V Krishnan, executive secretary, PCAIT, The last time
a meeting of the executive council was held was almost three to four months
ago.

In fact the situation has come to such a state that one member of the
association on condition of anonymity told DQ Channels, When a dealer faces any
issue in the channel community, the association has never come forward to
provide support to the concerned partner. That is the reason many of the members
have taken a backseat in the activities of the association.

When asked about the one achievement that the association has had in the last
one year Krishnan said, There is nothing much to tell. This is the association
that was once termed the premier association of the country. In stark contrast
is CMDA, the association that has been at the forefront of fighting for the
rights of its members. They created a flutter when they took Samsung to court
last year on dual policy on not providing warranty support to imported Samsungs
products. That apart, the association makes it a point to organize endless
activities like blood donation camps, jaagrans for its members to keep the
association alive and the members involved and active.

So what happened in Delhi, which resulted in one association being very
active and other being in a flux? The difference between the two is that PCAIT
executive council is made of people who have vast and varied business interests
and association activities need time. When business is expanding who will have
the time to devote to a purely non-profit activity. So PCAIT got wasted on the
altar of chasing newer business horizons.

Personal Gains and Ego Issues

More often than not associations become inactive or reach a state of flux
because personal ego comes into play. The president and the executive council
become so enmeshed into their business or using association for furthering their
business interests that they do not care about the community in general. It
happens way too often. A powerful partner is nominated as president, he gets an
executive committee in place, which like him are big players in the market and
that is a perfect recipe for disaster. A classic case in point is the present
Rajasthan Computer Traders Association (RCTA). The once very active Jaipur-based
association has been dead for a while now.

The last elections took place in August 2006, that is more than two years
ago. What was surprising was that while the general channel partner community
was crying out for help the executive committee maintained that there were no
major issues that were to be sorted.

When contacted, Hira Singh, PRO of the association maintained that the
executive committee had devoted almost 70-80 hours in a year on working for the
association activities, when quizzed about major achievements that the
association has had this year or any activity that they have undertaken in the
last year he said, The association has undertaken no activity in the last six
months. If so many work hours were being devoted to association work, why is it
that the association cannot even put forth one notable activity in the last six
months?

However, Jaipur thankfully has a channel community which wants an association
and in the last six months there have been major questions raised about the
president and the executive committee, thanks to a newsletter IT Khabri that was
circulated in the channel partner community. The newsletter, copies of which are
with DQ Channels states, In my last newsletter, I have talked about a person
who is accidentally, unfortunately, wrongfully sitting on the top post of RCTA.
My grievances are against him as a person and not the dignified post of
president of RCTA. In fact, election of a RCTA body without polls has proven to
be an accident.

Spurred by the newsletter Rupesh Kedia, a member of RCTA wrote to all the
members of RCTA questioning the inactive status of the association. His mail, a
copy of which is also with DQ Channels, clearly states that RCTA is inactive and
no elections have been held since 2006. In response to a news report that was
published in The DQ Week wherein, when questioned about their inactivity, RCTA
had stated that they are planning to organize an election. Kedia asked: Last
month there was a news article that elections are going to be held in Aug 2008.
But August has also passed and no elections have been announced.

Spurred by all the bad press and adverse reaction that the association was
getting to save face the executive council is now piggy backing on an IT Expo
that is being organized by an old time channel partner in Jaipur, Tarun Taunk.

But RCTA is not the only one, the same happens in almost all associations,
but while there is hope for RCTA due to an active IT channel, other associations
simply die out because of the lack of interest.

Periodicically Active

That is the status of almost all associations in one of Norths biggest
state Uttar Pradesh. While almost all big business hubs like Allahabad, Varanasi,
Lucknow, Kanpur boast of associations not many of them are active. In fact end
of 2007, with much fanfare, the eight associations in the state came together to
form the All UP Computer Dealers Association (UPCDA). A state level body that
was formed with the explicit purpose of espousing the cause of the channel
partner community of the state with the government and the vendors. However,
apart from the exception of Allahabad Computers Dealers Welfare Association
most of the associations are pretty much inactive. The recent spurt of activity
is because of an issue that will affect the entire channel partner community in
the state. Other than that none of the associations that were approached could
think of one thing that they would call an achievement for this year. This when
the market is going through recession, the dealers are hard pressed for business
and almost everywhere there are problems galore.

When asked about the status of the association in Lucknow, KN Shukla of Login
Uptech said, At the moment all of us are protesting against the unfair tax that
has been levied on us, that apart the association in Lucknow is no longer
active. They are not doing much and situation has reached a level where most
partners have lost interest in the association.

Talking about the level of activity of the UPCDA, one of the presidents of a
city association commented, The state level association has been almost
inactive since its inception except for one or two instances. These days
everyone is active because of a statewide increase in VAT but that apart UPCDA
is largely not doing anything.

Also periodically active is the Ghaziabad Computer Association. When
contacted while the association insisted that they were active and held one
meeting every month apart from four to five meets and also held elections on
time. When asked what they would consider as an achievement in this year, they
were hard pressed to come up with anything.

Hope Floats

So is it all sad news for associations in the North? Well not exactly. There
are a few associations that are keeping the hope alive when it comes to charting
association activity here. Top of the recall is of course Jalandhar Computer
Dealers Association (JCDA). There are not many people who will expect an active
association in a smaller town but JCDA is a prime example of how even in a small
town you can have an active and vibrant association so much so that all vendors
take note. Not only does the association manages to hold its election on time
every time, they also take their monthly meetings very seriously. That apart,
the sheer number of member events that organized by them are amazing. Whether it
is a screening of the latest blockbuster, blood donation camps, an initiative to
send flowers on birthdays and anniversaries of members, or off site meeting on
members, the association manages to do everything. They also were instrumental
in nabbing an imposter who was harassing dealers in the region by posing as
sales tax officer, by organizing a sting operation.

On enquiring about whether they are looking to collaborate with other
association, Rajiv Khanna, ex-President, JCDA said, Once we had held a meeting
with some of the major associations in North and that had helped us in touching
base with them. Now whenever there is an issue or if we are planning to go
offsite we always touch base with the associations of other regions.

CMDA Delhi as already enumerated has many things to its credit, not the least
being it taking Samsung to court. The only other association that can be deemed
very active in North is Panipat Computer Dealers Association (PCDA). While they
might not have made a mark nationally as yet, they have done a lot for their
region. Last year they hit the headlines when the association banned APC for not
providing after-sales service to partners in the region. The ban, which resulted
in no billing to the vendor, was only lifted when the issue was resolved.
Recently they also banned HCL for whatthe association saw as the vendors
harassment of a dealer in the region, the ban got attention of the vendor and
the issue got resolved.

While such associations do keep the hope alive, what is needed is a reality
check by similar outfits in other regions. While other regions debate about
forming national bodies to ably liaison with government bodies and vendors,
associations in North India they need to wake up if they want to make a mark.
Else the North chapters of associations from other regions will become the
identity of your region.

Shivangi Yadav

(With inputs from Amrita Tejasvi and Pooja Sharma)

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