The Gazetteers Department

With the rise in the volume of trade and commerce over the last three decades, a number of associations of traders emerged in this district as in others. The prima facie object of such associations is to unite together to solve the grievances of the trading community vis-a-vis the Government, to harmonise the systems of marketing, to bring about better relations and understanding between the traders and to solve their difficulties. Special mention may be made of the Uran Salt Merchants and Shilotries Syndicate. The syndicate was incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913, and declared as a limited company in 1952. The chief objects of the syndicate are to promote and protect trade, commerce, manufacture, sale and supply of salt produced in Uran, Karanja and Shewa, to promote the consideration and discussion of all questions affecting the trade, to co-ordinate and promote uniformity in quality and the mode of business transactions and to represent the interests of the members before the Government and the related public bodies.

The following are some of the existing associations in this district:―

(1) Rice Merchants Association, Panvel (1954-55).

(2) Pen Merchants Association, Pen (1957-58).

(3) Pen Taluka Salt Merchants Association, Pen (1940).

(4) Roha Vyapari Mandal, Roha (1959).

(5) Mahad Tobacco Warehouse Vyapari Association, Mahad (1958).

(6) Kirana Merchants Association, Karjat (1946).

(7) Sugar Merchants Association, Karjat (1959).

These associations are not registered and have been formed with a view to bringing about closer co-operation amongst the members of the trading community, to lay down common policy and to devise ways and means of further promotion of their business. Often disputes among the member merchants are referred to the respective associations for settlement.

However, these associations have not made much headway towards fulfilling the needs of the trading community and creating trade relations on a broader basis. Most of them are still in a primary stage and do not represent a coherent picture. Much more remains to be done regarding integrated, strong and organised associations in this district.

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