FTP - 'Haats Off' to India Bangladesh Border Bazaars
DGFT has made arrangements for the operation of Border Haats across the border between India and Bangladesh:
The following commodities will be allowed to be traded in the Border Haats at Baliamari- Kalaichar and Lauwaghar -Balat:
i. Vegetables, food items, fruits, spices;
ii. Minor forest produce e.g. bamboo, bamboo grass, and broom stick but excluding timber;
iii. Products of cottage industries like Gamcha, Lungi etc;
iv. Small agriculture household implements e.g., dao, plough, axe, spade, chisel etc;
v. Garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic products, aluminum products, cookeries.
Vendors who are allowed to sell their products in the Border Haats shall be the residents of the area within five (5) km radius from the location of Border Haat. The vendees may offer immediate consumption items of snack foods/ juices as may be allowed by the Haat Management Committee.
The commodities will be allowed to be exchanged in the designated Border Haats in local currency and / or barter basis. Each individual will be allowed to purchase only as much of the commodities produced in Bangladesh/India, which are reasonable for bonafide personal/family consumption. Estimated value of such consumption shall not be more than respective local currency equivalent of USD 100 (One Hundred) for any particular day.
The regulations relating to the foreign exchange will be suspended in the designated Border Haats.
Haats are weekly rural bazaars that happen on a weekly basis across thousands of villages in India. We talk so much of FDI in retail and WalMart, but these Haats of India have more retail outlets than WalMart and they offer a variety that the best of WalMart stores can never dream of providing. With most rural people being regular visitors to Haats (including about 40% women), these Haats can if properly used, change the political and economic scenario of the country. And no WalMart can drive out these Haats.
DGFT Public Notice No. 23 (RE-2012)/2009-2014,.), Dated: October 15, 2012