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. Devoting time and energy for making the channel business ecosystem much better.

In stark contrast situation up North is almost tragic. Personal gains, chasing business, plain lack of interest have ensured that most of these associations exist only on paper. It's 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 people 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 Dealer's Association (JCDA) notched up at number five. Panipat Computer Dealer's 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 Asia'a largest hub of IT channel partners-courtesy Nehru Place.

DELHI BELLY
So what ails associations in North? It's the affliction that is rampant across the region and the reason why most associations are completely inactive-no 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 interest the association went downhill. Everyone in the executive committee had business interests that conflicted with the association's 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 Samsung's 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 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's come 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?

JDCA and CMDA have undertaken activities like blood donation camp, cricket matches and offsite trips to keep their members engaged

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 to 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 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 North's 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 Dealer's Welfare Association most of the associations are pretty much inactive. The recent spurt of activity that you might have noticed (see box) 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 North? Well not exactly. There are a few associations that are keeping the hope alive when it comes to charting association activity in North. 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 are 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 what the association saw as the vendor's 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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