Demonetisation hits Shilp Bazaar

Varanasi: The visitors at Gandhi

Shilp Bazaar

lamented the unprecedented lull this year. The demonetisation has had an adverse impact on all the artisans participating in the fair, said Ajmal Khan, who had come all the way from Saharanpur to exhibit an array of wooden furniture.

The otherwise abuzz Urban Haat that witnesses one of the biggest shopping extravaganza, Gandhi Shilp Bazaar, did not see much footfall of buyers or art lovers on day four of the ongoing fair. The participants had a hard time finding serious buyers while some even suffered losses owing to lack of notes of lower denominations.

The low turnout of buyers is because of the recent demonetization move by government which has the people and the shoppers in a fix. Many said the sales had dipped to about 50%-80% as compared to last year.

“I had boarded the train for Varanasi when the news of demonetization broke out. I could not go back as all the arrangements had been made and the goods were on way. We have hardly managed to earn Rs 2,000-3,000 which is disappointing,” Khan said.

Kailash Kumar, a manufacturer of Haryanavi Zari Jutti (sandals) said that the sales had plummeted by 50%. But sales picked up on Monday when people thronged the bazaar and were apprised that invalid notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 are being accepted, he said.

For first timer Sonam Kothari, seller of Gota Patti kurtas and cotton Kurtis, the fair was nothing like she had imagined. “I had heard so much about the fair but the response we are getting is simply not the kind we expected. We are compromising a lot on prices for people to pay and things are sold,”she said.

Dry fruit merchant from Jammu and Kashmir, Rehan Ahmed said the sale was negligible and that they had difficulties purchasing food items owing to demonetization. “I had to take loan to buy meals for the day and on top of it all, there are no sales at all. I am afraid for the losses we would suffer if the sale doesn't pick up in a few days,” he said.

Meanwhile, TOI came across a couple of shoppers who were in a dilemma while purchasing less expensive products due to unavailability of change or notes of lower denominations. “I have to make unnecessary purchases because none of us have change,” student Shakshi Agrawal said.

Housewife Ruhi Dewan said that she was not able to buy bangles at a stall. “The bangles were priced at Rs 60 but the shopkeeper didn't have change.”

Teachers Smita and Neelam said that they had to limit their purchasing to Rs 200 each as that’s what they had as change.

Vendors at eatery stalls too suffered losses as people refrained from thronging their stalls owing to lack of lower denomination notes. Only a few visitors ate golgappas otherwise most simply overlooked the stall as they did not have change,” vendor Vijay Kumar said.


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