PANJIM: Business has dropped, that is what traders in the markets of Panjim and Taleigao said, six days after the Prime Minister addressed the nation announcing the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
Herald spoke to the fish and vegetable vendors in Panjim and surrounding areas on Monday, and saw vendors selling their wares only to customers who paid in lower denomination notes, turning away those with higher denomination currency notes.
“I have done very less business in the past few days. Due to demonetisation people prefer to shop at big supermarkets, which accept cards and due to this we were badly hit,” said Naseer Shaikh, a vegetable vendor from Panjim.
“We were forced to accept higher denomination notes of Rs 500 and 1000 even after the scrapping, if we didn’t we would not have enough sales. Being the only source of income we had to accept notes from the customers,” said Rajini, a fish vendor from Taleigao
Fish and vegetable vendors expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to suddenly stop circulation of higher denomination notes and stated that their businesses have been hit by this.
“I have sold fish on credit to people who are my daily customers and I have faith they will pay my money when things improve. I feel this is a good move, but the government should keep in mind the poor people, how they will survive if there are no buyers,” said Venita Ferrao, a fish vendor.
Vegetable vendors felt the move hit their business but on the other hand it has benefited big stores and supermarkets, as people made purchases through credit and debit cards, and as a result sales doubled.
Herald visited Panjim and Taleigao markets and it was evident that only a few customers were seen purchasing fish and vegetable from vendors. “This is a great move to curb black money but on the other hand it has affected the common man as people currently purchase groceries and other items only from malls and supermarkets thus affecting poor vendors,” said Joseph Tavera, a local resident of Old Goa.
Herald also saw that the fruit and vegetable vendors who used sit near Caranzalem circle, have disappeared from the site, locals says this is due to a lack of customers. Big fruit traders have also stopped accepting Rs 500 and 1000 notes.
