By our community reporter
Melbourne: Finally, Liitle India traders in Dandenong won the battle. The Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu’s office intervened in the matter and clinched the issue. A letter to the traders association on 28th February brought the good news of compensation from Places Victoria. The compensation will be paid individually to traders for loss of business as a consequence of the Dandenong Revitalization Project.
The compensation news was announced by Little India spokesperson Kaushaliya Vaghela at a largely attended traders meeting. The welcome announcement was celebrated with sweets and all those who supported the movement were thanked. It was resolved to take things in their stride and move ahead to hold the Bollywood Festival at Little India on 15th April.
Talking to SAT, Mrs. Kaushaliya Vaghela said, “We are thankful and pleased the Victorian Premier Mr. Ted Baillieu intervened to get the traders compensation demand accepted”.
Last month following Premier’s super trade mission to India and importance of boosting trade with India, the Premier’s office got directly involved to end the ongoing issues and disputes between Dandenong’s Little India traders and Planning Minister Matthew Guy over a redevelopment by the Places Victoria.
The offer from the government to consider compensation came as Mr Baillieu visited Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai with 220 Victorian businesses as part of a mission to boost the state’s exports. A group of 37 traders at the Little India argued they were badly affected by the works and that plummeting foot traffic had seen their trade dry up. The traders demanded the government’s Places Victoria agency, which is their landlord, compensates them for the impact on their businesses.
Following the traders demonstration at the Victorian Parliament on 6th December, 2011, on Christmas day Mr. Matthew Guy, who was negotiating with the traders, offered them six months’ rent relief.
It was discussed in the community that the Premier’s office had to intervene because of lack of action on the part of the Planning Minister. He had said in the Parliament that the Little India issue was a mess left by Labor. But the danger of giving a wrong message in India during the trade mission made a solution possible. So, before the Premier left for India he instructed the issue be wrapped up with a solution.
The other factor was the ALP support to the Little India issue and its rising clout in the community. The trade mission blessing ceremony did not see any Lib attending giving a negative message. Obviously, Labor could not be blamed for this. The community was already discussing who was supporting and who was opposing on the social networking sites.
Manoj Kumar active in support of Little India traders feels “its great news and every Victorian must be happy to see protection of jobs of about 100 people and livelihood of 37 traders including the unique Little India multicultural icon.”
SOURCE: SAT, March 2012
