The official group of All Kerala Chemists & Druggists Association (AKCDA) led by A N Mohan and K Sivasankaran, which has been legally recognized by court recently, has strongly objected to instructions given by All India Organization of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) to the pharma companies in India with regard to the appointment of new stockists in the states of Kerala and Orissa.
In January this year, the AIOCD general secretary Parsan Kumar Singh had written circulars to the marketing, logistics, supply chain and distribution heads of all pharma companies asking them not to appoint new stockists in Kerala and Orissa without the consent of AIOCD.
The office bearers of the original AKCDA alleged that the circular of AIOCD is a follow up of the letter written by J S Shinde, president of AIOCD to the pharma companies in December 2008. In his letter Shinde had mentioned that the companies should forward all PIS (product information services) of new products meant for sale in Kerala at a rate of Rs.2000 per product to his office. He had also advised the pharma companies not to appoint any new stockists in the state of Kerala and Orissa without consulting him.
The office bearers of the AKCDA said that they will question this move of AIOCD in the court as it is a gross violation of the provisions of Essential Commodities Act and unconstitutional. The Kerala based organisation now raises its voice against the order of AIOCD because Shinde and his group are still sticking on the contents of the circulars issued by them separately.
When contacted, AKCDA general secretary K.Sivasankaran said that it has become their moral responsibility to protect the interests and benefits of the members of the association. He said more than 2000 new products are coming to Kerala every year and AIOCD is benefiting crores of rupees in the name of PIS. When asked whether his association is getting dividend of this collection, he said huge amount is going to the account of rebel group from AIOCD on this basis and it has to be stopped soon following the court verdict.
In a letter written to the AIOCD general secretary, Sivasankaran has said that the circular issued by P K Singh to the pharma companies is unjustifiable and unconstitutional. The letter says that Singh’s circular stands as natural injustice to the members of the association and a disgrace to the human rights. He requested the national body to refrain from all such activities that may destabilize the working organizations of all the states in the country.
Two months ago, when a company has appointed a stockist in Pathanamthitta district, the rebel group led by Antony Tharian had complained to the C & F of the company for not getting consent of AIOCD. Tharian group has been working in Kerala for the last a few years as the branch of AIOCD, which recently lost the legal validity. A court in Ernakulam district banned the activities of the group led by Antony Tharian last month.