Week after staying off trade, street vendors back in biz

TNN | Apr 4, 2020, 04.51 AM IST

Madurai: It seems only a week is all what most street vendors can afford to stay off their businesses. Just when the second week of the lockdown began, the street vendors have dusted themselves off and rushed back to their business.

While the country came to a standstill with the lockdown in place, it was a week of no dealings for small vendors like Ashokan who had no option but sell the old stocks. “I stocked up murukku, biscuits and groundnut ladoos, among others, about a week ago from a wholesaler,” he said adding my family helped me pack them in plastic bags.

I spent the Rs 5,000 I had for this stock and would make a profit of about Rs 1000, if I do not sell this I will stand to lose my Rs 5000,’’ he said.

He was not alone. Ramanathan, 73, of Mullai Nagar, sold his stock of tender coconuts in Chinna Chokkikulam. “I placed my order a few days ago, and paid Rs 11,000. I was told that the stocks were coming this morning so sold them today,’’ he said.

All the vendors, including fruit sellers and those selling non-essential commodities like “kolam powder’’ were all on the streets on Friday, as it was necessary to ensure that they did not waste away Rs 10,000 they spent a week ago for stocking up.

For all these small vendors, it is a now or never situation. The government’s dole might help them survive for a week, but if they have to save something for the future, they have to go out in the street and sell as it is the only to keep their business going and money rotating.