IndiaRetailBiz

Navin Patnaik led Orissa government, which in the wake of protests of small traders and street vendors had refused to provide any special treatment or extra security to large retailers, particularly Reliance ‘Fresh,’ has decided to create 15 vending zones in Cuttack the commercial capital of the state, which will help roadside vendors affected by the entry of large retail houses to rehabilitate, according to an Economic Times report.

The Orissa government, eventually, plans to create such zones across the state.

The government is also reported to have assured to review the permission given to the corporate retailer to operate within the state. The assurance, according to the report, was given to Dharmendra Kumar, Director, India FDI Watch, an organisation spearheading the movement against entry of big corporates and FDI in retail in the country.

It may be recalled that following violent protests against entry of Reliance ‘Fresh’ in the state in September, 2007, the retailer was forced to reconsider its decision to sell fruits & vegetables in its shops in Bhubaneshwar, the state capita.

Reliance has also been forced to postpone its plans to open ‘Fresh’ shops in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.