#LOCKDOWN HEROES

Grocer gives away essentials on credit to needy

Sindhu.Kannan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.04.2020

Thirty-seven-year old A Saravanan, who owns a supermarket at Ayanavaram, has come as a blessing in disguise for many people in the area, especially the daily wage workers and autorickshaw drivers starved of income since the lockdown began. Saravanan allows people to buy goods for credit for up to ₹1,000 from his shop with nothing but their word to payback as assurance. They can pay him back whenever they can after the lockdown ends. So far, 437 people have bought essentials assuring to pay later.

“People such as daily wagers, autorickshaw drivers have been desperate to buy essentials to feed their families ever since the lockdown began. They often have little or no money. So I decided to give them goods on credit,” says Saravanan. Not less than ten people show up everyday at his store, Aadhavan Supermarket. “They can choose whatever they want from what’s available in my shop. I don’t mind if the bill costs a little more than ₹1,000,” he says.

Saravanan had a board displaying the offer when he launched it on March 25 and it brought in a few people. After a regional TV news channel ran a feature about his offer, many more started to show up.

Some even come from far off places seeking his favour, he says. The shoppers can leave their phone numbers and addresses with him but Saravanan doesn’t take any proof from them as assurance to pay him back. “I am not able to say no to them though I know I may not get the money back,” says Saravanan.

“They take home the goods happily and it brings me satisfaction to know I helped them to some extent,” says Saravanan, even as he was packing goods to distribute to transsexuals.

He is also giving out masks for free when a customers shows up not wearing one and ensures that social distancing is maintained throughout. He manages the shop with 12 employees. Saravanan has extended the credit facility to people in Tiruvallur district, where he runs two shops.

DOING HIS BIT: Saravanan lets people buy essentials for up to ₹1,000 on credit, with just their word as assurance to pay