Background of
the Study
Kitchen markets, now days, are common phenomena in both rural and
urban Bangladesh. Price hiking, food adultering, product syndicating and so
many problems are becoming regular scenario in the Kitchen Markets including
groceries. This is a fundamental principle supporting application Performance
Management (www.wikipedia.com, accessed on 31/10/2014). Consumers are being constantly affected by
such problems. A large portion of citizens are not sufficiently aware of prices
and purity of daily-used products. Government has an agenda of ‘Right to Information Act’ for making the citizens update on
any issues. On the other hand City Corporations are supposed to deliver basic
urban services to the city dwellers. And they are entitled to perform some
essential and emergency actions within its boundary. Of various actions Dhaka
South City Corporation (DSCC) is prescribed to monitor and supervise the
kitchen markets within its jurisdiction to ensure people’s right to know any relevant
information. Now the standing committee of DSCC for Bazaar monitoring is
bestowed with 78 bazaars to monitor over within its jurisprudence
(www.dscc.org.bd, accessed on 30/10/2014)) By the way, effective and meaningful
monitoring system has become imperative for operation of kitchen markets in the
transparent way.
Problem
statement:
In Bangladesh every marketing sphere is controlled by a financially
powered group. They are also considered as syndicate. They control each and
every movements of market. The kitchen market is not out of their black hand.
Therefore it is obvious that every classes of customer need to go there for
their own daily essential commodities. (Kreta-Bhokta
andoloner sharuph, 2007)
Here the price of daily essential commodities imposed by DCC is not
followed for their united syndicate. Imposed price of DCC is not effective for
customer unawareness and their indifferent attitude. Most of the time, it is
not possible to pursue the imposed price although Government and its related
administration department want to control it.
Significance of
the study:
Bazaar monitoring system is an important phenomenon for every
country like Bangladesh. Without proper Bazaar monitoring system,
irregularities and mismanagement exist in a Bazaar. A kitchen market is one of
the most essential markets where everyone needs to go every day. So, proper
monitoring system of kitchen market and application of existing rules,
regulations on this market are utmost necessary. In case of Dhaka city, Dhaka
South City Corporation (DSCC) must play the most significant role in case of
kitchen market monitoring system. DSCC along with other concerned market
monitoring authorities (TCB, CAB, NGOs, BSTI, and CBA) should monitor the
kitchen market on a regular basis. If they monitor every kitchen market and
emphasis on proper implication of laws, and legal procedures, it will be
helpful for the common people to buy different items in a reasonable price.
Concerned authority must focus on proper display of different food items charts
according to the price fixed by DSCC. It is helpful for people because they
need not to bargain with the sellers to reduce the price. On the other hand
sellers don’t
get high price compare to actual price. Another positive impact of Bazaar
monitoring system is it ensures the proper quality of vegetables, fish, meat
and other items. When DSCC and its concerned officials monitor market in a
regular basis, sellers become alert to ensure the quality of different
vegetables, fish, meat and other items. They become frightened to use chemical
such as “formalin”. Formalin and other toxic chemical
are so much harmful for human body and it causes cancer. Only proper market
monitoring system can save time, money, energy of buyers and bitter experience
of bargaining between buyers and sellers. So, proper Bazaar monitoring system
(Kitchen market) by DSCC is really helpful for common people. Therefore DSCC should focus on proper Bazaar
monitoring system to ensure quality and quantity of different food items and to
meet the proper public demand.
Literature
review and Analytical framework
Literature
Review:
The urgency if Bazaar monitoring in Bangladesh dated back to 1970s
when government establishes Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) with promulgation of president
order (TCB order, 1972). According to ACER (agency for cooperation of energy
regulation)- Bazaar monitoring is to assess retail market competition with a
view to identifying instances of best practice which improve market performance
(ACER report, 2014 ). Bazaar monitoring is also best defined as ‘Supervisory activities in progress
to ensure market is on-course and on schedule in meeting the objectives and
performance target (Business dictionary, 2014). In case of DSCC (Dhaka south
city corporation) the responsibility of Bazaar monitoring is entitled with a
designated standing committee (city corporation act, 2009). It is clearly
defined in act under article 50 that there would be a standing committee to
observe, monitor and control market price (city corporation act, 2009).
Beside government endeavor, there exist some civil society
organizations working to protect consumers’ right in terms of pure commodities price monitoring as prescribed
by City Corporation (Kreta-Bhokta andoloner sharuph, 2007). In its publication
CAB sees Bazaar monitoring as a system which is aimed at keeping the price
stable and within the purchasing power (CAB research paper, 2005). Bazaar
monitoring is conducted with a view to make necessary goods attainable to
consumers and ensuring balance between demand and supply (TCB order- 1972). In
consumers’
right protection act, 2009 it is mentioned that if any individual sells
something in over rate prescribed by any authority he is likely to be punished
up to 1 year imprisonment and/or 50 thousands tk as fine.
(Bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd, 2014)
Consumer Association Bangladesh (CAB) has made an attempt to pursue
DSCC in terms of Bazaar monitoring. The surveillance by CAB covers Street Food
Vending, labels on products, tobacco consumption, BSTI certification marks,
road accidents, level of consumers’ awareness of their rights and obligations are also
carried out. Surveillance
and Monitoring on market prices and quality of essential commodities and
services is one of the regular activities of CAB and is done with a view to
pressurize the government to take appropriate measures
against anti-social price-hike, food and commodity
adulteration. (Consumerbd.org, 2014)
Objectives:
The aim of the study is to conduct a survey on the Bazaar
monitoring system of DSCC, which is categorized into four main objectives. They
are as follows:
Ø To find out
what factors enforce the frequency of
Bazaar monitoring
Ø To find out the
factors that discourages customers and sellers not to follow the imposed price.
Ø To develop a
new mechanism or model for proper bazaar monitoring.
Ø To see the real
picture of kitchen market regarding imposed price of daily essential
commodities.
Conceptual Framework
Operational definition of Variables
Bazaar
In this study Bazaar is meant for some selected kitchen markets
under the jurisdiction of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Unlike its
counterpart word ‘market’ in economics Bazaar is a site where
daily necessary goods used in the kitchen, are bought and sold through
collective bargaining. Bazaar is a
Bengali term where buyers and sellers interact directly or through intermediary
to trade goods services or contracts or instruments for money or barter (Business
Dictionary, 2010).
Monitoring
system
Monitoring system may have connotation in business term. By the
way, hereby it is the promulgated Bazaar monitoring system of DSCC as given in
City Corporation Act, 2009. In this act a designated standing committee for
bazaar monitoring is bestowed with due responsibilities. The manner in which it
cooperates and facilitates the Trading
Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will also be counted as monitoring
system (city corporation act, 2009)
Dhaka South
City Corporation (DSCC)
DSCC is the self-governing corporation that is associated with the
task of running the affairs of the southern part of the Dhaka City
(Wikipedia). In this study, DSCC will be
meant for the southern administrative part of the Dhaka City which was spited
and renamed as the ‘City
Corporation Amendment Act’2011.
It is the linking bridge between the central government and the citizen
entitled with some regular and essential duties
Kitchen Market
Kitchen markets are the shopping site where the products and commodities
including groceries, from salt to potato and coriander to beef are sold to the
customers.
Theoretical
framework
As objective to assess the extent
and effectiveness of DSCC bazaar monitoring system the strategy and technique
of monitoring is key concern. This monitoring system is likely to characterize
with so many aspects in terms of compatibility. For the purpose of identifying
adoptability and conformity with international agreed standard of monitoring in
developing an analytical framework relevant 2 model have been used. These models are elaborated in the
following sub section.
ARB and CMA methods.
CMA (The Competition and Markets
Authority, UK) has another approach to market monitoring. It seeks for ensuring
competition in among the sellers. CMA model also suggest for having a market
reference group to who the sellers are accountable. (Gov.uk, 2014)
While On the other hand ARB (Air resource board, California)
suggests for having a designated market monitoring cell/group where aggrieved
person can directly draw complain to it. Even a strategy to engaging gov. law
counsel/adviser in its campaign to proceed immediate legal action
(Arb.ca.gov-2014).
Analytical Framework
An
analytical framework is
devised for this
study based on
the review of
the relevant literature and
existing theory of Bazaar monitoring.
The proposed research is to be tested in several kitchen markets under
DSCC, Bangladesh. All these endeavors are aimed at assessing the variables of Bazaar
monitoring of DSCC. Once the data will
be available for
the proposed study
it will help
to examine the
significance of discrete variables to the dependent variable of Bazaar
monitoring.
Figure: 1
|
1.
public awareness
2.
Price-chart existence
3.
Frequency of monitoring
4.
Intensity of punishment
5.
sales of expired commodities
6.
Rate of complain
|
|
Bazaar
Monitoring System of DSCC
|
Notwithstanding that there are so
many independent variables of Bazaar monitoring are available for convenience
this researcher has only selected the above mentioned six variables.
Research
Questions:
1.
What is the current scenario of Bazaar Monitoring in Dhaka South
City Corporation?
2.
How much essential and effective it is to monitor ‘Bazaar’ by Dhaka south
City Corporation?
Hypothesis:
It is assumed that Bazaar monitoring system (specially focus on
kitchen market) will not be effective in most of the time of the year. It will
be effective while different print and electronic media will publish different
articles and journals about this system and its different loopholes. When news
and information of media will become so much alluring and that time common
people will be concerned about its efficiency. Sometimes it will be effective
at the time of holy Ramadan for proper government intervention.
Limitation:
Since the study
was urged to
be completed within
a given timeframe it can’t covers all the drawbacks of Bazaar
monitoring. Even findings may not reflect the type of market such shopping
market. As it is a sensitive case and that is why sellers might hide
information that may slightly affect the findings. We have limitations of time, knowledge,
resource capability and so on. As our final exam is knocking at the door, we
will have not got enough time to conduct our research in a most effective way.
On the other hand sellers may not be so much interested to give proper information.
Consumers may not have enough idea about Bazaar monitoring system and they will
not be able to give correct and accurate information for this research.
Sometimes consumers may have too busy to give answer of any question. After all
we will have tried our best to conduct our research in a most effective and
efficient way.
Research
Methodology
This chapter is discussing about the methodology of the research
applied in the study for achievement of desire objectives. In this chapter the
details of the methodology which will be carried out prior, during and after
the field work will be described.
Research
Design:
The study will be mainly based on primary data. Secondary sources
will also be used. Survey Method will be used to collect primary information.
The reason behind using survey method
is that “it is probably
the best method
available to the
social scientists interested in
collecting original data
and this enables
the researcher to
identify not only
the variables which are
related to each
other but also
how these relationships
change over time”(Aminuzzaman 1991:39). After
data analysis data will be presented with different table, figure and chart
(pie chart, bar chart, line chart). Table will be made on the basis of
questionnaire and using five scale likert formats.
Sampling
Method:
Data gathering is vital in research, as the data is meant to
contribute to a better understanding of a theoretical framework (Bernard 2002).
This research is mainly qualitative in nature. A stratified sampling method
will be followed for conducting this research. We will take response from
different age group within 20 to 60 years old.
To reach the objectives, data will be collected from both primary and
secondary sources.
Data Collection
Instrument:
Primary sources of data will be questionnaire, interview and
discussion with respondents. A structured questionnaire with both open and
close ended questions will be used in this survey. We will also observe the
markets and respondent attitudes (sellers) to validate the study. Secondary
sources of data will be books, internet, journals, DSCC’s acts, DSCC’s annual reports and reports of
different research organizations concerned with Bazaar monitoring.
Population
Sample size & Research Area:
The people who go to kitchen markets for buying product at least
four times in a month are addressed and also the people who have a permanent
shop in the market.
15 respondents will be given questionnaire in each Bazaar (market).
These 15 respondents are buyers. So the total population will be (15*3) = 45
buyers.
And beside this 9 sellers will be interviewed (3 from each market).
So total respondents from sellers will be (3*3) =09 sellers.
The simple randomly selected three kitchen markets of DSCC
jurisdiction. They are:
1. New Market
Bazaar
2. Ananda Bazaar
3. Polashi Bazaar
Data Analysis
Plan:
In order to make the analysis fruitful and goal oriented a special
attention will be given in this part. Data will be analyzed with the help of
the literature of the previous research in the same field. We will use
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel. To get different chart and percentage we will
use SPSS software also.To interpret the data to be gathered, we
will use the following statistical
formulae: Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.
n
% = -------- x 100 ; n – number of responses
N N – total number of respondents
How data will be analyzed which is followed by findings can be
graphically shown bellow.
Figure: 2
|
Secondary
sources: Books, journal, internet
|
|
Primary
Sources: Questionnaire, interview, discussion, observation
|
|
Data
collection
|
|
Analyzing
data
|
|
Findings
|
Overview
on Dhaka south city corporation & markets under its jurisdiction
78 markets
amin strtre. Staing ommittee
ANALYSIS OF Data & FINDINGS
Section A: Demographic Analysis
of respondents
3.1.1 Age Distribution of respondents (buyers) (n =45)
Age Distribution of respondents
(buyers) by age (n =45)
age group
|
frequency #
|
percentage
|
20-30
|
6
|
13%
|
31-40
|
9
|
20%
|
41-50
|
25
|
56%
|
51-60
|
5
|
11%
|
figure.3
Age
distribution o sample is given in Figure:
3. we find that most of the respondents 25 (56%) fall in the age group of
41 to 50 years. this is followed by 9 (20%) that belongs to age group 31 to 40.
The age category 20-30 constitutes 13% (n=6) of the sample which is pretty
younger age group. Finally the minority of the respondents (n=5, 11%) fall in
age category of 51 to 60. From the above ensuing result it can be concluded that the lion share of the buyers pool
participating in the study is fairly old enough to be mature and rational
ranging between 41 to 50 (n=25, 56%). They are supposed to be the guardian of
respective families.
3.1.2 Gender Distribution of respondents (buyers) (n =45)
Figure.4 is all about gender distribution o
the sample.
Figure.4
The sample
was representative of larger number of male respondents to that of female
members. Males constitute 77.7% (n=35) compared to 22.3% (n=10) female
respondents. This is a picture of work sharing between male and female in urban
area. The above data shows that outdoor responsibility (e.g. going kitchen
market) still goes to male counterpart in families in Dhaka city.
3.1.3 Profession of respondents (buyers) (n =45)
Figure. 5
Figure.5
illustrates & explains the frequency distribution & percentage of the
underlying profession of buyers taken as sample of this research. Teachers are
the dominant number of respondents (28.86%,13, n-45). They are followed by
house keeper (19.98%,9,n-45), students (15.54%,7,n-45) businessmen
(8.88%,4,n-45). The minority number of respondents is doctor (4.44%,2,n-45).
Both the laborer group & gov. Officials have same number of representation
in this sampling having 11.1% of representation.
Section b- Analysis so per as
explanatory variables
3.2.1
Public awareness
Consumers’ awareness
about DSCC market regulatory system is a basic indicator for having a market
monitoring system on move. As a working market monitoring system reinforce
consumers to know about existing law, rules, and agencies to complain at. That
is why public awareness has been added as explanatory variables in this
research. Beside this ARB model of
market monitoring suggests consumers for complaining to concerned market
authority (see ARB model in theoretical framework). So this model emphasizes on
public awareness & expects consumers will turn into critical mass while
noticing any violation of law.
Some related
questions have been asked to the respondents in terms of knowing their
awareness level. The findings are bellow.
#Customers’
awareness about DSCC bazaar monitoring system/
The findings from the above subscale can be mentioned as below
Figure: 6
knowing about the existence of DSCC monitoring system (n=45)
A total of 71 %( n-32) of the respondents
agreed that they know about the Bazaar monitoring system of DSCC (Dhaka South
City Corporation).
On the other hand rest of the
respondents 29 %( n-13) have no idea whether there is a market monitoring
system under DSCC.
#watching
price chart at DSCC market (n-45)
Figure 7
Price chart
is a must for a Bazaar monitoring system. On the basis of which buyers can
bargain with sellers and complain to concerned authority. If price chart are
not there buyers can not predict price. This is also another indicator of
awareness. If consumers are aware enough they must find out the price chart.
That is why the respondents were asked whethere they saw price chart in front
of market/shops while they going kitchen market under DSCC. The findings are as
bellow
51%(n-23) of the respondents gave
positive reply about noticing city corporation price chart in market.
The other 49% replied negative in the
question of seeing DSCC price chart ever. So the way DSCC operates its bazaar
monitoring system was asked mainly to the latter.
Table:
Noticing price chart
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
|
Yes
|
23
|
51.06%
|
No
|
22
|
48.84%
|
Total
|
45
|
100%
|
# See
expire date of commodities?
Figure: See expire
date of commodities?
*Percentage may not aggregated 100% as some didn’t respond
Seeing
expire date of commodities is most illustrating point to judge customer's
awareness level. BSTI affirms an excitable date of commodities while TCB also
monitors whether expired products are sold or not. The key responsibility of
DSCC market regulatory authority is to take necessary step against any sort of
complains from consumers (under a jurisdiction) regarding selling or keeping
expired product. This is possible only
when consumers or buyers will be aware enough to see expire date of product
while buying something from kitchen market. That is why this issue was included
under public awareness (explanatory variables). The result is as follow
22 males from 35 male respondents
replied that they see expire date of products while buy something. It constitutes
62.85% of male university in this research & around 45% of cumulative male
& female respondents.
7 of the male respondents said they
don't see expire date while buy something. It constitutes 15.5% of the research
respondents.
6 male respondents did not answer to
this question.
On the other
hand,
7 female respondents out of 10 gave
positive reply in the question of seeing expire date. This constitutes 70% of
female respondents. So apparently females are comparative more aware about
seeing expire date as compared with their male counterpart. (63% against 70%)
3 female respondents out of 10 said
they don't see expire date.
# receive
voucher against purchased commodities?
Figure: receive voucher against purchased commodities?
*Percentage may
not aggregated 100% as some didn’t respond
Receiving
voucher from seller is another important indicator to measure consumer's
awareness. If there is a sound bazaar monitoring system it must encourage both
consumers and sellers to keep and give voucher against sold commodities. On the
basis of which DSCC can affirm whether its price chart are followed or ignored.
So result of this question is as follow
7 male respondents out of 35 agreed
that they receive voucher from sellers. Tough interestingly this is not
intended to show DSCC officials rather most of them said this is because of
their wife’s pressure to collect voucher.
15 male respondents said they don't
receive voucher which constitutes 33.3% of total respondents.
4 male said sometimes they took voucher,
sometimes don't.
On the other
hand,
3 female respondents said yes & 3
other said no in terms of receiving voucher from the sellers.
Only single female respondent said that
sometimes she took voucher.
Beside this
9 respondents (6 male & 3 females) didn't reply to this question.
# Bargain with sellers to follow price chart?
Figure: bargain with sellers to follow chart price?
The
information, citizen charter, price chart are important tools that leave
citizens more competition power. That is why bargaining with sellers to follow
price chart was included as measuring tool for public awareness. This was asked
only 23 respondentd who confirmed noticing price chart in market. Asking
remaining 22 respondents about price bargaining would be invalid.The result is
as follow.
30.43%(7,n-23) gave positive feedback
in the question of bargaining to conform with price chart.
34.6% gave negative feedback in reply.
Remaining 8
respondents had no comment on it.
So, above
data showed that most of the respondents are not prone to force sellers to
follow price chart.
3.2.2 Frequency of monitoring
# DSCC campaign against malpractice in market?
figure: ever exposed with DSCC campaign against malpractice
in market?
The
frequency of monitoring is another illustrating aspect to explain DSCC market
monitoring. Under this explanatory variable we asked respondents two related
measuring items. Whethere they saw market campaign from DSCC or not. If yes
then mostly when. Whether price chart is updated on regular basis.
The result
of this question is
37.74% (17, n-45) gave positive
feedback saying that they saw such campaign though not sure whether that was
from DSCC or TCB or even district magistrate in the form of mobile court.
Alarmingly 55.22%(25) said that they
didn't ever seen such campaign from any authority. It indicates that most of
the campaigns are conveyed just for show up on media; not run on the regular
basis. Otherwise people's eye couldn't ignore that.
The
remaining 6.6%(3) didn't have any comment on it.
As a
complement of this question positive respondents were further asked to what
extent they had been exposed to such campaign. So In complement question the respondents were 17 in number. Their
response is as bellow.
Only a single respondent agreed that
he saw this campaign on monthly basis
4 of the respondents said that
experienced it seasonally.e.g. during fruit season.
As expected earlier on 12 respondents
are in favor of observing it during Ramadan. It indicates authority gets
alerted when camera is lurking or media is pursuing over market matters.
When
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Ramadan
|
12
|
70.58%
|
Seasonal
|
4
|
23.52
|
Monthly
|
1
|
5.88
|
Total
|
17
|
100%
|
# Price chart updated on regular basis
Figure: price chart updated on regular basis
The findings
of this question are as follow
17.34% think it is not updated on
regular basis. Even one seller says not maintained fair rate. It can not
predict all quality & quality less product's price. Even not compatible
with market equilibrium.
82.66% desagreed with the issue of
price chart updating. It indicates that consumers don't give serious attention
to DSCC price chart.
3.2.3 Regulatory
and punishment aspect
What kind of
punishment was executed?
financial-
20000-5000
|
damage product
|
crock product
|
3.2.4 Complain
about Bazaar anamilities
#Complain to
DSCC market monitoring standing committee difficult
Figure: complain
to DSCC market monitoring standing committee difficult
a) Strongly agree b) partially agree c) neutral d) disagree e) strongly
disagree
Table: demonstrated, participated in human-chain against market
irregularities?
only 1 person attended
causes
|
percentage
|
lack
time
|
|
no
link with
|
|
unconscious
|
|
not
works
|
|
not
seen
|
|
no
interest
|
|
no
comment
|
3.2.5 Holistic
picture of DSCC monitoring: consumers’ perception
A) Strongly
agree b) partially agree c) neutral d) disagree e) strongly disagree
Price chart
followed
Punishment is
enough
Monitoring
regularly
#
Observation over 9 shops &
interview with the sellers.
9 sellers o s market have been interviewed with. So their
opinions are worth to mention.
It is osre tat
exposure o Price chart is as follow
title
|
Queny #
|
Percentage %
|
Price chart exist
|
06
|
67%
|
Price chart exist
|
03
|
33%
|
Total
|
09
|
100%
|
Sellers’
awareness about DSCC bazaar monitoring system
# Know about DSCC bazaar monitoring system?
most of them the don’t who campaighn whether it is TCB with
district magistrate or DSCC commitee for monitoring
why expose price chart (who show price chart)
to show update
|
inform buyers
|
avoid harres
|
avoid punish
|
# Frequency of monitoring: sellers’ perspective
Receive back expired commodities
9/100%
Who responsible for market manipulation sellers perception
importer exporter
|
|
wholesale market
|
|
ministry
|
|
producer
|
|
politician
|
|
dcc
|
|
mill factories
|
|
intern market
|
|
brocker
|
|
Sellers’ other opinion while taking interview:
One says price is fixed disregarding the quality; or not
proportionately. So he came in around noon cant confirm the price at night.
Analysis of the Data
>Quantitative Analysis with
Reference to the Analytical Framework
Quantitative evaluation as regards
to independent variables and indicators
SL.
|
Independent
Variables
|
Indicators
|
Score Obtained
|
1
|
awarness
|
system knowing
|
|
follow pricechart
|
|||
burgain
|
|||
taking voucher
|
|||
Correlations between Dependent and
Independent Variables
indep variables
|
correlation
|
>Qualitative Analysis of the Data
Obtained
innings e
-----Steps if sellers claim overprice
bargain
|
||
no bargain
|
||
not buy
|
||
take it
|
||
don’t think there is overprice
|
||
protest
|
||
Reference
1. Kreta-Bhokta andoloner sharuph, (2007), CAB: Dhaka
2. Consumers’ right protection act, (2009)
3. City corporation act,
(2009)
4. Trading Corporation order, (1972)
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