How the states are doing is definitely something industry and its various associations should be keen to know. But how far would they go for acquiring this knowledge? Poach on each others territory and personnel, according to Outlook sources.
Uncanny resemblance to CII findings forces FICCI’s withdrawal
How the states are doing is definitely something industry and its various associations should be keen to know. But how far would they go for acquiring this knowledge? Poach on each others territory and personnel, according to Outlook sources.
That CII has been working on state rankings has not exactly been a well-preserved secret. Nor was the fact that the Rajiv Gandhi Institute had been entrusted with the job. The week before last, a few journalists came to know that FICCI too had been working on a similar study and it was ready. They also received a brief summary of the study with relative rankings for states in different areas. Outlook had a copy and used some rankings for West Bengal in its last issue.
Beginning last week, CII received its completed study from RGICS and decided to go public with it on September 1. Suddenly, FICCI was not too keen on publicising its study and told Outlook that it was not available for the press right now. Asked whether the study was complete, they said a study indeed existed but only secretary-general Amit Mitra could release it to the public. In his absence, Outlook did not get the clearance to publish what it had already acquired.
What was the reason behind the FICCI volte face? FICCI and CII have always enjoyed a healthy rivalry which has been good for business and media. If FICCI had indeed conducted a states study through an outside consultant, why on earth did it leave the ring before the whistle blew?
Detractors claim the FICCI study was just a dressed-up version of the CII study leaked out by an interested insider. The goof-up was spotted at the last minute by the FICCI brass and it immediately held back the study. It is alleged that the CII leadership had some interesting conversation with them on the subject. Even RGICS has not come out of this incident smelling of roses. Some sources also allege that the FICCI study was a rehash of an old BJP study done for internal use and figures for West Bengal are from a new study being conducted by the party.
Outlook now has both the states studies but no conclusive proof that theyre the same. The results are quite similar in both cases, but then that is only to be expected. Figures, after all, dont lie, irrespective of whether they are working for CII or FICCI.
As for the FICCI-CII rivalry, it can only increase in intensity after the latest spat.