History

Siliguri Merchants’ Association was established in an era prior Independence in the year 1941 when India was under the British Rule. During the period, Siliguri was only a rural village having small dwellings with paddy fields and narrow lanes running between them. The total area was a flat land without any tall rising mansions, giving a clear sight of the whole town easily from one corner to another which is now not visible at all. The “Siliguri Corridor” was formed when Bengal was divided into West Bengal and East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) in 1947, with Sikkim later merging with India in 1975. At this point many immigrants came to settle here for better facilities which led to an increased population. Due to the geographical location of Siliguri connecting three international borders namely Bangladesh, China and Nepal and being the gateway for North Eastern States, entrepreneurs from outside were attracted to this place in order to exploit the inherent prospect and potential of the village for the purpose of trading activity. With progress of time, small business houses started to come up and do business of different items in Siliguri. Gradually in the process of business, the traders started to confront various problems related to trade and business and in their effort for resolving the same lost precious business time. Few Trade leaders well known in society and business circle, formulated a strategy in order to address the problems, faced by traders repeatedly by forming an organization consisting of well reputed persons in the trading circle having goodwill and knowledge of various policies and also having sufficient influence and hold in Government Departments, Administrative and Political circle to take up the problems on their behalf for necessary redressal etc. and slowly in the year 1941 an organization was formed in the name of Siliguri Merchants’ Association the only Association of North Bengal in order to bring traders under one platform with a sole motive to remove all difficulties, problems and overall welfare of the traders.

The old Records of year 1941and few successive years are either not kept in record or missing and hence, fail to elaborate the activities of the Association from its nascent stage. The activities of the Association given below is brought to light from available office records.

We append here in separate section titled :Roll of Honour” the names of Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers who took over the charge of the respective and prestigious positions from year 1952 till date as per records available from Roll of Honor displayed in the Association office.

In order to give the Association legal recognition and to run the organization in an organized way, a constitution of the Association was framed and finalized under the supervision of the following Executive Committee members of year 1980-81.

1) Sri Ratan Kumar Gattani, President
2) Sri Sujit Bose, Sr. Vice-President
3) Sri Paritosh Chanda Paul, Vice-President
4) Sri Jagdish Pd. Goyal, Hony. Gen. Secy.
5) Sri Bhagwati Pd. Dalmia, Joint Secretary
6) Sri Santosh Kr. Killa, Asstt. Secy.
7) Sri Omprakash Mundra, Treasurer

8) Sri Harchandrai Dalmia, E.C.Member
9) Sri Omprakash Agarwala, E.C.Member
10) Sri Shew Shankar Agarwala, E.C.Member
11) Sri Kundanmal Agarwala, E.C.Member
12) Sri Shivprasad Jhawar, E.C.Members
13) Sri Sudarsan Prasad Gupta, E.C.Members

TimeLine of Siliguri Merchant Association

The Office Bearers and the Executive Committee members have always strived hard to remove the difficulties of traders at various forums for redressal year after year:-

history

1979

Under the leadership of Sri Narsingdas Agarwala, President and Sri S.R.Bajla, Hony. General Secretary, an Industrial Estate was established at 2nd Mile, Sevoke Road, Siliguri, in order to promote development of Industries in North Bengal. During the year flood and draught had ravaged South and North Bengal respectively. The Association had extended its helping hand and cooperation towards the victims by donating generously.

1981

Under the Hony. General Secretariat Sri B.P.Dalmia, registration of the Association under West Bengal Societies Act was done successfully.

1983

Under the leadership of Sri Chhabinath Prasad and Sri Parashram Singhal, as Hony. General Secretary, various problems related to Post and Telecommunication, Air Service, Electricity and labour were taken up successfully.

1988

Under the leadership of Sri Biswanath Agarwala, President and Sri J.P.Goyal, Hony. General Secretary the “BYABASAYEE SAMITY BLOCK” was raised as a mark of respect to traders who paid voluntarily and liberally contributed towards raising fund for raising the edifice. During this period imposition of Statutory Rationing system was stopped at Siliguri. Among other problems, problems related to Banking, Commercial Taxes etc. were taken up successfully.

1992

Under the leadership of Sri Mahadev Prasad Garg, President, and Sri Deokinandan Dalmia, Hony. General Secretary, various problems related to Regulated Market levy, Enforcement Deptt. Commercial Tax, Railways, Municipality and various other issues were taken up successfully for the benefit of traders.

1997

Matters related to E.C.Act, Food & Supplies, Regulated Market, Commercial Taxes, Paribahan Nagar, were taken up by Sri Omprakash Agarwal, President and Sri Sujit Bose, Hony. General Secretary. During this period the single license system for essential commodities and foodgrains renewable after every 5 years was taken up successfully by the then C.M., Sri Jyoti Basu. The problem related with harassment by the Central Customs Officials indulging in rampant interception and seizure of betel nut in transit inspite of valid documents was taken up and suitably addressed with the concerned Deptt.

1999

Under the able leadership of Sri Parashram Singhal, President and Sri Sujit Bose, Hony. General Secy., various problems relating to Commercial Tax, Siliguri Regulated Market Committee, Food & Supplies, E.C. (Special Provision) Act, Telecommunication, Labour and Traffic problems were addressed suitably for the benefit of traders. During this period most members of the Association were awarded with letter of allotment by the SJDA for construction of shops and warehouses at Paribahan Nagar, Matigara. The Bhawan Nirman “Shilannyas” was completed and the foundation laying ceremony of the Bhawan at the land of the Association provided by Siliguri Merchants’ Welfare Trust near Agrasen Bhawan, was held on 04.12.98 in a befitting manner in presence of distinguished members and dignitaries.

2001

Under the leadership of Sri Sujit Bose, President and Sri Omprakash Agarwal, issues related with Siliguri Regulated Market Committee, Sales Tax, Food & Supplies, Labour, Railways and Traffic were taken up successfully with the concerned Departments. During this period the demand for withdrawal of E.C.Act was placed.

2011

Under the leadership of Sri Omprakash Agarwala, President and Sri Praveen Jhawar, Hony. General Secretary, problems relating to labour, Karmachari, renewal and obtaining fresh trade license, Railways etc. were taken up amicably. During this period a major breakthrough of opening Rail Gate No.1 was achieved.

2004

Under the leadership of Sri Bhagwati Pd. Dalmia, President and Sri Omprakash Agarwal, Hony. General Secretary, the problem associated with illegal collection of Regulated Market levy was looked into. With the effort of the Association the State Govt. had appointed a High Power Committee headed by a retired High Court Judge to go into the details of irregularities indulged by the Agricultural Deptt. in collection of Regulated Market levy. Demands were placed before the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Govt. of West Bengal for simplification of procedures for collection of West Bengal Sales Tax and elimination of harassment of traders at different Commercial check-posts. The Commissioner had assured to look into the matter. The Licensing Control Orders relating to foodgrains and other essential commodities was repealed and special provision of E.C.Act withdrawn.

2014

Under the leadership of Sri Omprakash Agarwala, President and Sri Ghanshyam Malpani, Hony. General Secretary, different problems related to labour working in the market and their insurance were taken up among other issues pertaining to traders.

2018

Under the leadership of Sri Gopal Khoria, President and Sri Gouri Shankar Goyal, Hony. General Secretary, full cooperation was received in solving various problems associated with Police Administration, GST, Income Tax, SJDA, Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Food & Supplies Deptt and all Government Deptts. A cordial relationship was maintained with all Departments.

2019

Under the leadership of Sri Karan Singh Jain, President and Sri Gouri Shankar Goyal, the Association confronted serious problem arising out of COVID when it was a challenge to maintain steady supply of foodgrains and other essential commodities to the general public. The members of the Association did not let the food stock to dry up during the alarming situation of two years 2020 & 2021.

2023

All round development of the Association was made under the Presidentship of Sri Sunil Agarwal and Hony. Gen. Secretary, Sri Sanjay Singhal. The membership increased in leaps and bounds and the current strength of membership enrolled with the Association is 853 much, much higher than the years gone by, signifying members benefitting from the Association. The standard of the Projects, programmes and Events execute d and completed during this tenure were outstandingly organized and planned and received laurels from all corner. Befitting relationship under cordial atmosphere was maintained with all Govt. Departments, Administrative Officers, Political Bodies and with all concerned organizations for smooth running and understanding of the trade and for overall welfare and wellbeing of the entire business community.