#Noteban hits Delhi’s ‘student markets’ – sales low, udhaar high

For the many students living in PGs and hostels concentrated around DU colleges, nearby markets are not just places to hang out at. These markets – Kamla Nagar, the monastery market near Majnu Ka Tila and Amar Colony – are also places where students can find anything from clothes to accessories at affordable prices. Among the visible effects of demonetization is the emptying of these ‘student markets’, since the outstation students living nearby have little cash for anything beyond necessities, and these makeshift shops deal only in cash.
Since the demonetization on November 8, these markets have been largely desolate. Shopkeepers say that students do visit the markets sometimes, but it is either to buy only necessary goods or to just window shop. Some of these shopkeepers have now started accepting e-payments, and a few are also giving udhaar to those students who are regular costumers.
The monastery market near Majnu Ka Tila has been desolate for the past few days (BCCL)
‘90% kaam khatam hai’
Raja Khan, who has a cosmetics and accessories shop in Amar Colony, says that most of his regular customers are from the PGs right next to his shop. But since everyone is dealing with the cash crunch, he hasn’t seen those students at his shop in a while.
Says Raja Khan, "There is no business these days, nobody has the money to give us. Our regular customers come from the PGs nearby, but students live on a limited budget as it is and at this point, they are saving money for necessary purchases, so nobody is buying anything (for recreation or indulgence). Ninety per cent kaam khatam hai, shop ka kiraya bhi khud nikalna pad raha hai."
Azam Khan, who has a shop of woollen wear in the same area, adds, “Agar pehle 10 coats khareed lete thay customers toh ab 4 le rahe hain. We have the option of e-wallets, and though some customers are using that option, business is almost half of what we otherwise have in this season.”
Many vendors did not put up their stalls on Kamla Nagar’s Bungalow Road (BCCL)
Nayi currency pe discount!
When we visited the Bungalow Road market in Kamla Nagar, most of the vendors had not even put up their goods, and those who had seemed to be only waiting for customers, not attending to any. “We have bought our new winter stock. This is the time girls would come to our shops and buy jackets and coats. Ab koi aa hi nahin aa raha hai. Agar pehle 20 coats bik jate thay ek din mein toh ab 3 bhi mushkil se le rahe hain. Jinke paas naye notes hain, woh customers Rs 2,000 ka note nikal ke kehte hain, ‘Achha, ab toh discount de do, nayi currency de rahe hain’,” says Chandan Choudhary, who has a woollen wear shop in Kamla Nagar.
Pradeep Kumar, a roadside vendor who sells boots and shoes in Kamla Nagar, adds, "Yahi time hai jab hum naya stock late hain aur students yeh boots leke jate thay. Sabko achha bhi lagna hai aur kam kharcha bhi karna hai, par ab koi aata hai toh kehta hai ki card ya app se le lo payment, par hamare paas hai nahin toh woh bas dekh ke hi chale jate hain."
‘Udhaar hi de do bhaiya’
Since only some shops and vendors in Amar Colony and a few vendors in Kamla Nagar have the option of e-wallets, students are also managing by asking shopkeepers and vendors for udhaar. Jaydeep Yadav, who has a shop in Amar Colony, says, “Students bolte hain udhaar dene ke liye, par hum nahin dete. Abhi toh hum khud kuch kama nahin pa rahe, unhe kaise udhaar dein?”
Chandan Choudhary from Kamla Nagar says, "Hum bas unhe udhaar de rahe hain jo humare regular customers hain. Humein pata hai woh yahin rehte hain aur roz aate hain market mein, toh hum de dete hain, par bol dete hain ki ek week tak payment kar dena."
In the monastery market near Majnu Ka Tila, a very popular destination for students nearby and from all across the city for clothes and accessories, shopkeepers are not accepting e-wallet payments. As a result, there are hardly any students to be seen in the market, which is a hub for those wanting to buy cheap but trendy shoes and clothes. "We are very close to the Delhi University area, and this is the time when most of us have brought out new stock. But after demonetization, I don’t think students want to buy anything new. Why would they spend on clothes when they are facing a cash crunch?" says Tsering Sangmo from the monastery market. Tsering Lhamo, who also has her shop in this market, adds, "There are some students we know quite well who have been coming to our shops since they joined their colleges. Woh aake bolte hain udhaar ke liye toh hum de rahe hain, waise kisi ko nahin."