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| SURENDER VATS – A PROFILE |
| Birth Place |
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Jind (Haryana) |
| Education |
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M.A., B.Ed. (Delhi University) |
| Occupation |
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After finishing education took up teaching job in 1996, started entrepreneurship as Cable Network Operator in 1997. Finally switched over to Direct Selling industry and working as Direct Selling Distributor since 2001 till date. |
| Personalty |
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Ambitious, thoughtful with fighting spirit, having tremendous patience & leadership ability with remarkable capability of conceiving the system followed by its successful implementation. |
| Achievements |
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During 2012, successfully led the year long agitation in Rajasthan demanding the guidelines and legislations for Direct Selling Business from the government.
Holding the position of President of Direct Selling Distributors Welfare Association. Making all efforts to scale-up the state level agitation to nation-wide movement for Direct Selling Business Legislation & Act. Also working for recognition of Direct Selling Business as Industry. |
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After completing B.Ed., during 1994, big dreams and aspirations were blooming as usual with a strong desire of identity creation. The job as a teacher continued for one year. By then it was clear that neither it was the destiny nor the path to walk.
Teaching job was insufficient to fulfil my aspirations. So, chose to become an entrepreneurship and started as Cable Network Operator in 1997. Hard work did pay the results, but restlessness continued. During the year 2000, a meeting of Direct Selling Business transformed the thought process and life for good. The idea of showing a business opportunity to a customer along with the purchased products as add-on benefit penetrated deep into mind and made tremendous impact. Since that day onward, till date, spent whole time with a company selling the products of basic needs.
Started in 2001 on an old two-wheeler, travelled to remote area, educating people about the opportunity for transforming life and worked very hard to enlighten the dreams of lacs of people. Now the next dream is that this noble business which has given education, pride and recognition to people; also has given the solution of many burning national issues like, inflation, poverty, unemployment, black-marketing, adulteration, religious & cast menace, be recognised as Industry. Every one believes, beyond any doubt, that this business is capable of national integration as well as realising the dream ‘India – a big power of 2020’ conceived by our ex-president Sh. APJ Abdul Kalam. |
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| STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE – TEST OF WILL & WITS |
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From December 2011 to October 2012, it was a litmus test of will & wits. On the pretext of administrative inspection, the company of approx. 1 crore 31 lacs distributors was shut down in a snapshot. This was the onset of struggle for justice. Peaceful protest was done in hundreds of district offices followed by thousands of postcards dispatched to Hon’ble President of India regarding revival of earning source. From 2nd March to 4th March 2012 peaceful protest was done at Jantar-Mantar with a token hunger strike. From there memorandum was submitted to the President, Prime Minister, Home Minister and many other ministers for quick revival of the business.
Thereafter from 16th to 18th March 2012, more than 5000 people continued with peaceful protest on the footpath around Ramlila Ground at Delhi. Thereafter the protest marched towards Jantar Mantar In the presence of thousands of protesters, on 19th March 2012. Indefinite hunger strike was initiated by 534 people at Jantar-Mantar. More than two dozens of Members of Parliament from almost all major political parties addressed the agitation and promised to support the struggle. Many dignitaries including famous social activist Ms. Medha Patkar came in person to support this movement of justice.
The protest was heading with demands of justice for one and a half crore people and proper legislation for the Direct Selling Business from the government. It was on 29th March 2012 when Cabinet Minister Mr. V. Narayan Sami assured to resolve the issue before the 11 days old protest was called off.
A few months passed away. Having nothing in sight, people from all across the country assembled at Udyog Maidan, Jaipur on 9th May 2012 and started a peaceful protest with a firm commitment from own-self that they will not leave till guidelines for Direct Selling Business from Rajasthan Government are declared. After 35 days of protest, from 13th June 2012 relay hunger strike was started by 11 people.
In the biggest protest in the history of Rajasthan, on 117th day of hunger strike & 152nd day of the protest, thousands of affected distributors gathered at Udyog Maidan, Jaipur. It was heart-breaking to see that 48oC temperature of May-June and record breaking rains of August-September could not dampen the fighting spirit of any one from 6 months old Arman Virk to 70 years old Shanti Devi.
The objectives of protesters were fulfilled with the release of guide-lines by the Rajasthan Government on 7th October 2012. This was a victory of not only the hard-pressed protesters but also of those politicians, administrators, social activists etc. who felt the pain of crores of affected people and gave significant contributions. Out of all, the guidance and presence of Federation of Direct Selling Association President Sh. A.P. Reddy at protest site was instrumental in giving the shape and direction to the protest.
It should be noted beyond any doubt that obtaining guidelines from one or two state governments will not do any justice to this unique business. Need of the hour is that our government should consider this business as Industry and forms appropriate legislations and Acts, at par with many other countries like Australia, Malaysia etc.
“Unity is strength”. We are a huge number – need is to get associated.
Come forward, join and strengthen the DSDWA; pay tribute to Hon’ble Mother Teresa by following her philosophy “I can do something, you can do something but we both can change the world.
Best wishes. |
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