Sajad describes businesses which will never catch up, resulting in more unemployment and hence more misery
(Mr. Sajad Kralyari, 28, was born in Kralyar, Srinagar. He had his early schooling at the General Public Mission (GPM) School, and his higher secondary education from the Government High School. He completed his B.Sc. from the Gandhi Memorial College, Rainawari, Srinagar, and Master’s degree in journalism from the Media Educational Research Centre (MERC), University of Kashmir in 2008. He subsequently did a brief stint in New Delhi before returning as a correspondent for the Rising Kashmir, working on business and economy related stories.)
Wounded Paradise: A day’s breather ‘no biz’ for luxury goods
Srinagar: As the new calendar of protests issued by the separatist leadership allows for working day on Tuesday, traders and business entities dealing in electronic and luxury goods are not optimistic of brisk business.
One working day a week doesn’t give much relief to dealers of luxury and high end goods as people are interested to buy only essential commodities.
“We don’t even make a 5 per cent sale of what we witness on a normal day. People are not interested to buy electronic goods in this situation. These are luxury items, which are not a priority for the people at this time of crisis,” said the owner of an electronics goods outlet Khurshid Ahmad at Hari Singh High Street.
Even the marriage season, which is at its peak, has failed to push demand for apparels. “The garments have also witnessed dip in sales. Even the ongoing marriage season has not helped us,” said an apparel distributor Mohammad Yaseen Khan.
With the month of Ramadan already approaching, the garment outlets see no immediate relief. “There are no marriages during the holy month of Ramadan. We don’t expect people to buy garment. Further, the cancellation of marriages has further hit our sales,” said Khan.
Even though traders are willing to offer rebates on these items, people prefer to pay extra money only to stock more quantities of essential commodities.
The normal day in a week has led to panic buying of only essential commodities with no price control.
“The situation is uncertain and people are interested to only stockpile essential commodities. They are ready to pay any price on this normal day,” said President Federation Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) Shakeel Qalander.
The shoppers are also willing to pay any price to stock food items.
“The marriage ceremonies are not a priority as of now. We have lost interest in luxurious goods. I have delayed my plan to paint my house, which I was had planned earlier,” Riyaz Ahamd Bhat from Khanyar said.