retail | Shravan charity mission

The rising tiger population of India is leading to man-animal conflict? Maharashtra alone has lost 104 lives in 2022. India has about 3,000 tigers. With focused efforts based on the science of the tiger-prey relationship, we have the potential to hold 10,000-15,000 tigers in the wild. We have 3.8 lakh sq km of suitable forests, but the viable breeding tiger population is concentrated in only about 50,000 sq km area. So, conflict is bound to happen in areas where there is a high density of tigers.

In such pockets, competition for space is high among tigers, leading to intra-specific aggression, causing evicted tigers to come into conflict with humans. India and Nepal have done a good job of increasing the tiger numbers by way of on-ground protection, voluntary relocation of villages, and public and political support for tiger conservation compared to all other countries of Asia.

Physical retail in India accounts for well over 90% of retail sales. Mom and Pop stores enjoy a large chunk of consumer goods sales which is 75-80%. But they are now feeling the heat of e-commerce players aggressively targeting new segments like groceries.

In 1851, Seattle, the chief of the Suquamish tribe around Washington’s Puget Sound, is believed to have delivered what many still consider to be one of the most profound environmental statements ever made by man. In reply to a proposed treaty under which his tribe was persuaded to sell acres of land to the colonisers. Seattle wrote to the US president that all things are connected: ‘How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of this earth is sacred … Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people.’

At the age of 72, Socrates was forced to drink the hemlock in Athens just because his spiritual ideas were not in consonance with those with that of the orthodox elements of Greek society. He was accused of creating negative thoughts in the minds of the youth of Athens against the tutelary deities (A tutelary deity is a deity or a spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of “tutelary” expresses the concept of safety and thus of guardianship) of the state. Being a fearless man, Socrates courageously faced the tyranny unleashed by the judges who condemned him to death. His last words to the judges were: “It is now time that we depart, I to die, you to live, but which had the better destiny is unknown to all, except to God.”

Oxford University is said to be older than the Aztecs: The Aztec civilization was a confederation of three city-states in central Mexico. It began in 1325 with the founding of the city of Tenochtitlan. That seems like a long time ago–and it was. But you’d have to go back even further to witness the founding of Oxford University, which started as a learning hub as early as 1096. By 1249, the university had established itself as an educational institution with “halls of residence,” which still stands today. But do you know even before Oxford University started its journey, ancient India had many renowned universities such as Nalanda University, Vikramshila University and Takshashila University to name a few in their zenith?

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida; India. Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; Available for reading in Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be the undying characteristics of Lucknow. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California).

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10^th February 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21^st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama).

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers?, June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23

SUNDAY SHILLONG TIMES PUBLICATION

POEM HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23;

ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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BY KAMLESH TRIPATHI- FORMER GENERAL MANAGER MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD., HEAD OPERATIONS MAHINDRA SHUBH LABH SERVICES LTD., HEAD AGRI BUSINESS AND ENGINES. ESCORTS LTD., VICE PRESIDENT RELIANCE RETAIL (FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR)

STATE OF PLAY

How would you like if it was written behind the packet of wheat flour that you just bought, ‘The contents were grown in the farm of Nanak Ram near Saras town, district Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.’ This is ‘traceability’ in agri terms. Sounds like a distant dream. But then the ‘big dream’ of the big ticket ‘Indian Retail.’ Connect the farm-gate to the fork. But before we get into this let us have a flavor of how the current system operates. Indian farming traditionally has been hooked to the mechanics of Artheyas (Grain merchants) Artheyas were created to help farmers with their documents while selling their crops in the mandis. These documents included entry of grain receipts in mandi registers, raising sales invoices and also tax challans. As most of them were illiterates and did not know how to read or write. This created a lifelong bond between the Artheyas and the farmers. The Artheyas initially started as the humble ombudsman assisting the farmers but gradually transformed into strong ‘gaddis’ at the influential grain market. But at the same time the profile of farmers continued to be the same or even declined comparatively, as the number of small and marginal farm holdings only increased and profits dwindled.

Today, a farmer depends on the artheyas for crop finance and finance in case of crop failure. He also treats the artheya as an assured market for his crop. And also depends on him for certain exigency finance which he may require in terms of marriage, illness, festivals thus forging a strong bond. And as compared to banks, their documentation is simple and not cumbersome and so a big convenience. But artheyas don’t forget their pound of flesh; and finance at high rate of interest and in some cases even beyond 24% per annum, and this hits farmer profitability. Even for the grain that the farmer sells through the artheyas, he charges commissions which is the major reason for grain, vegetable and even fruit prices becoming more than double from the farm level. Government in recent times has started warehouse receipt system; a type of finance that is available by mortgaging crop but then it entails a series of documentation.

FARM TO FORK GENESIS

When the big ticket retail entered India the whole value chain from farm-gate to fork was examined by them in detail. What they found was, if the artheyas were removed from the system, and if they could buy grains, vegetables and even fruits directly from the farmers, a substantial value could be unlocked, saved and this could be shared amongst the three stakeholders; the farmer, retailer and the consumer. And, a lot of ground research has been done in this spectrum since then.

WAY FORWARD AND HOW DOES IT WORK ON THE GROUND:

Most big retailers have aggregation or stock points that store merchandise, from where it is brought to the retail floor, basis guidelines of minimum and daily stocking level. Some even have cold chains and reefer trucks for fruit and vegetable movement. Farmers who grow vegetables in the surrounding areas come with their seasonal vegetables and off load their stocks in these stock points basis number of plucking. These stocks are then sorted and graded for pricing by the company on a mutually agreed basis, after which it is taken in stock and payments are made once a week or in a fortnight to these regular suppliers. In case of onions and potatoes which have specific areas of production and limited season, such purchases may be made through one big farmer or a consortium of farmers or at times an agent who deals in these veggies. Fruits are more seasonal and the companies buy directly from orchard owners. Like apples are supplied by orchard owners from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, mangoes could be from Malihabad near Lucknow . Farm gate purchase for grains is more tedious and cumbersome and still continues in a big way through the mandis, because of the government policies. Even the cropping regions are quite diverse; like Basmati paddy is grown in Punjab and Haryana, as an example. Some states have also tried contract farming where farmers are first registered before the cropping season. A particular variety of seed is given to them and package of practice is explained, and when the crop is harvested the Company lifts the entire crop. Fritolay the potato chips company has done contract farming for potatoes in Ranjangaon area near Pune and Punjab Agro has taken up a huge contract farming initiative of Basmati paddy in Punjab.

ADVANTAGES VS DISADVANTAGES

Farm to fork- is model of agriculture that has come to stay and has the following advantages and disadvantages:

• Increased Profitability: It gives greater profitability and earnings to small and marginal farmers which are growing in number.

• Expert advice on crops are available such as drip irrigation, optimum use of pesticides, new cropping patterns, crop diversification and fertilizer usage, to name a few; from international crop experts associated through big retailers.

• Ready market, even before the crop is ready.

• Traceability of crop

• There is a possible danger of the buyer reneging in which case the farmer will have to look for a new buyer within a short span of time to sell his crop.

• It may not have any government support price.

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Shravan charity mission

Our NGO works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer: We cover our blog with short stories, children's stories, articles, book reviews, vignettes, spiritual, episodes, poetry, analysis, news report, general knowledge, quotes for the benefit of our readers.

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INTERESTING FACTS EPISODE -V

ARTICLE: #FARM TO #FORK methodology- IN BIG TICKET #RETAIL