Discontent members of TN CDA to form parallel trade body

Chennai, August 26, 2022:

Discontent members of the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TN CDA) are uniting once again under the oldest banner, Chemists and Druggists Association Chennai (C&D Chennai), the first drug traders' outfit formed in the country in 1926, to form a parallel association to work for the welfare of ordinary members in the traders' community.

Although attempt for a new outfit was made three years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic stuck all the further activities which are now being revived. As part of it, two zonal meetings will be held in Chennai and Madurai in the months of September and October this year to mobilize support of all district committees most of whom are now allegedly unhappy over the way the TN CDA is functioning, senior traders from different districts informed.

 A senior chemist association leader in Chennai said a parallel association would have been formed three years ago had the Covid-19 pandemic not blocked their work. Otherwise, the present dispensation of the TN CDA, under the leadership of TrichyManoharan and T Selvam, would not have come to power. He said all the 34 district committees, except a few members of certain districts who still show their allegiance to the state office-bearers, are giving full support to revive the activities of the oldest association, C&D Chennai.


Talking to Pharmabiz, a representative of the C&D Chennai said those who raise the trade issues of members in the meetings of TN CDA are threatened or ousted from the association. He said he and a former president of the TN CDA wanted to contest the state election in last December, but were debarred from contesting without any reason.

Another trader from a southern district has said that the traders face intimidations from several corners in addition to the legal issues the business community is facing. Recently, he said, in Thiruvarur district one pharmacist-cum- medical shop owner was assaulted at his shop by two persons in night. But no member of the TN CDA has turned up to enquire about the matter or to help him file case with the police. At last, The C&D Thiruvarur district secretary, KumbhakonamRamachandran filed case with the police marking copy to the district police against the assailants and provided all legal aid.

Meanwhile, the C&D Chennai has elected new office bearers to lead the association for the next five year period. Until now, it was working under the TN CDA as its district branch.

V. Sakthivelan, proprietor of SugambikaPharma in Chennai is the president and T Natarajan from Janaki Pharmacy at Adyar is the secretary. P. Thrilokachandran, owner of AVI Medicals at Kolathur will work as treasurer. Natarajan said 3800 medical shops in Chennai district will attend the zonal meeting to be held in the capital city in September.

In Thiruvarur district, the former president of the TN CDA, KumbhakonamRamachandran, has been elected secretary for the C&D Thiruvarur. After the state level meeting in November, the association will write to the AIOCD requesting for state branch status. C&D Association hopes that JS Shinde and Rajiv Singhal from AIOCD are likely to attend the state conference to be held in November or December.

According to C&D Chennai the office-bearers of TN CDA, in order to expel stronger members of the community from the association, are making changes in the byelaws every six months. No member of the association is keeping a copy of the association constitution as it is kept only by the office-bearers.

It is learnt from allegations that majority of the chemists community in Tamil Nadu want to oust T Selvam from TN CDA as he is not working for the welfare of the members, but only focusing on his business.Pharmabiz