I read a good article in "The Hindu", a major Indian newspaper, about a new foreign policy bill that will allow giant multinational retailers like Wall-Mart to operate in India. There is a huge community resistance because it is beleived that this policy will prejudice national economic and social interests.
In India, the retail sector is traditionally community-centric, low-cost and employment intense. Typically, a whole family will work in one shop and the whole community is engaged in the trade in a defined area. It is collectively almost an unincorporated enterprise formed by relationship-based communities that are now increasingly regarded as social capital. The argument is that if companies like Wall Mart are allowed to operate in India they will destroy the social capital that has taken soo long to create.
I personally agree with the resistance. The big box stores that litter the power centers of newly built suburbs are the definition of a disconnected community. Wall-Mart is very bad for small business and bad for social capital. If these stores are allowed to move in, India will lose millions of jobs and displace just as many people. The social fabric will be disturbed and community health will decrease.
For India's sake, I really hope the this bill does not get passed!
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