Demonetisation has affected our business: khaje sellers

The traditional sweets sellers, who make their living by selling the traditional Khaje or kadio bodio at various zatras held across the state, have complained that since the government’s demonetisation move it has been difficult for them to avail change of Rs 2,000 from banks and to add to this, pilgrims visit their stalls with the new Rs 2000 note for petty shopping and this in turn has affected their business.  

Recently, the vendors of traditional sweets, who had put up their stalls at the Nagueshi zatra and at many other places, faced shortage of small denomination notes and as such they suffered losses. 

The khaje stall owners Jayesh Naik and Rajendra Sawanth, who arrived in Marcaim for the zatra scheduled to be held on November 22 and 23, complained of not getting modd (change) for the new Rs 2000 note.  Most pilgrims are experiencing shortage of low denomination notes of Rs 100 and hence approach us with the new Rs 2000 note for purchasing only a kg of sweets, which is Rs 240 per kg. We are forced to give them the remaining amount or send them back and most of the time we are left with no change. 

Huge crowds throng the zatras and they especially visit these stalls for kadiyo-bodiyo or khaje, roasted grams and other traditional sweets. At most festivals, khaje is distributed among relatives and family members.