Glitches mar new online indenting system; wine merchants stage protest, submit memorandum
Mysore/Mysuru: Amidst high demand for beer to beat the summer heat, liquor stores in Mysuru are running out of stocks. Even the Indian Made Liquor (IML) stocks are fast drying up much to the chagrin of wine merchants. They are blaming the new software that has been put in place by the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Ltd. (KSBCL) for the shortage.
The Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts Wine Merchants Association members are staging a protest against the new system in front of the KSBCL depot at Hebbal today where they demanded immediate withdrawal of the new system and retain the old indenting system. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the KSBL depot manager Lokesh.
The KSBL introduced the new software on Apr. 4 (last Monday) where liquor stores and outlets had to purchase stocks online through a web-indenting method. However, the online system is full of technical glitches and store managers and staff were unable to place the indent. As such, till two days retailers somehow managed with existing stocks but now they are facing severe shortage of beer and IML.
As per the new web-indenting system, the indents have to be placed by liquor outlet managers or owners between 9 pm and 9 am for the stocks needed for the next day. Earlier, the merchants could place orders over phone manually and transfer the money to KSBCL depots through RTGS.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, President of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts Wine Merchants Association S. Guruswamy said that while they were ready to welcome the new online system, the software has many glitches and the web-indenting process is cumbersome. The indents are placed at the KSBCL depots in the respective taluks and districts for IML and beer and procure the same.
“The indent has to be made between 9 pm and 9 am and every day 9 pm is the peak hour where there are the highest sales. At 10.30 pm we have to close shutters and it is not possible to place the indents. We could have accepted it if it was a smooth and user-friendly process. But the software is a tedious system and full of glitches,” he added.
There is a severe shortage of beer and IML in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar as only 20 percent of the traders and retailers know how to work with the new system. The rest are suffering huge losses as retailers are not in a position to meet the customer demand, he added.
Guruswamy alleged that the old system was scrapped unilaterally without testing the new software or fixing bugs.
“We had requested the Excise Department to postpone the implementation for at least a month or so till the software is tested and till the merchants familiarise themselves with the new indenting. We also suggested a hybrid model where both systems could be used. But the department implemented hastily and today we are running out of stocks,” General Secretary of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts Wine Merchants Association R. Lakshman, who is also the Managing Director of True Spirits, said.
Alcohol -drinking and drug-taking culture ,appeared on a large scale coinciding with the development of the large IT sweat shops, where the IT techies toiled all day doing the code-developing coolie work, and spent their evenings in clubs in Bangalore so called relaxing ,and this culture spread to Mysore too. Hence, it was not the simple case of: ‘Henda Kuduka Ratna’ ( GP Rajaratnam). Families, particularly women folk ,who married an IT techie thinking that their lives will be better are grappling with the real problems of alcoholism and drug addiction. As PM Modi boasts to every foreign leader he meets, this is the land of ancient culture!
@Howdymodi- Start learning about Ancient Indian History. There are plenty of books and videos on YouTube. Current consumption of alcohol does not have anything to do with ancient culture.
Correction: Ancient Indian Culture
@boregowda
You are a typical Gowda, a dimwit. This has nothing to do with ancient history, where the alcohol consumption was mentioned in Sanskrit literature-a language dimwits like you cannot learn, but I did, that was a milder wine,, only tasted. I do not need you tube, only people with low brain cells count like you do.
When were you born? I was born and brought up in Mysore, and there was just one small wine shop in K R circle, and in Bangalore too , one shop neat the KR Market there I have seen families wrecked by alcoholism and drugs, which the IT techies consume, as they have more money in their pockets.
I know, you do not have enough brain cells, typical Gowda-shooting your mouth without thinking!
@ boregowda
Gowdaru must be heavily into alcoholism and drugs, Hence, he is justifying the use of hem by citing ancient literature.
Gowdare, you should seek help.
You both are the disgusting street dogs of koppalu, feel sorry for your existence
@boregowda
Only Gowdas like you live in Koppal. Just a dim witted fool, you are!
Seek help.