THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
It was not business as usual in Mapusa as the Centre’s overnight and sudden decision to demonetize Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes hit the common man and small-time traders hard.
With banks and ATMs closed, there was restricted movement of people and traffic on the streets.
Mapusa market wore a deserted look with small-time businessmen like the fruit and vegetable vendors having had to face the brunt of the Centre’s decision.
“We have hardly done any business as there is considerable drop in customers in the market today,” said Hyder Ali, a fruit vendor in Mapusa market.
Currency notes of Rs 100 evaporated within no time and most of the traders had to sit idle on the counter as no business could be conducted without change.
“Most of the holiday makers and locals who visit my shop come with Rs 500 notes. I accepted Rs 500 notes today but with a rider that people shop for as much value,” said John D’Souza, the owner of Vital D’Souza, a prominent businessman in Mapusa market.
He said the government’s sudden decision had inconvenienced a lot of people, particularly the tourists who were caught unawares.
Surprisingly, there was a sizeable crowd at the Paradise Store, a prominent pharmacy in the municipal market. Inquiries revealed that the pharmacy witnessed much bigger crowds on daily basis and business was much muted on Wednesday.
The owner faced similar problems of shortage of Rs 100 notes and was running out of the reserves.
“I am accepting Rs 500 notes but I have also requested my customers to help me by purchasing items worth minimum Rs 300,” the owner, Warren Pinto told The Goan.
The vegetable market was virtually empty. Most of the vendors cried that lack of change had affected their businesses during the day.
“We did not accept Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 notes and we have almost exhausted all our change within an hour in the morning,” said Satyaveti Kavlekar, a local vendor from Guirim.
The only place that saw some activity was the Mapusa fish market.
“We have been accepting Rs 500 notes. We have to carry on with our business since it’s a perishable item,” said Shashikala Govekar, the chief of fish vendors in Mapusa.
Prominent super markets and other business enterprises in Mapusa promptly hoisted notices that they wouldn’t accept Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.
At least one prominent private hospital fixed a similar notice that it would not accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
BOX 1
Gold biz face the brunt
MAPUSA: It was a “dry” day for most of the goldsmiths, as the community had to face the brunt of the Centre’s decision.
The array of shops of gold merchants in the Mapusa market did not transact any business during the day.
“Since the sale of gold is of high value, most of our transaction is in higher denomination. How can we carry business in such climate,” questioned Mahendra Tar, a gold merchant in Mapusa.
Secondly, he said they could not accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes like other traders because they basically do business in current account and they wouldn’t be able to account for the large amount of money coming in.
He said the gold business would face this problem at least for some days until things normalize.
BOX 2
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Petrol pumps have no change, top up with Rs 500
MAPUSA: With Rs 100 currency notes running dry within hours, most petrol pumps in Mapusa made a whack asking customers to top up with oil worth Rs 500 or Rs 1,000.
“We have run out of change, that is why we have requested our customers to fill petrol worth Rs 500 or Rs 1,000,” a salesman on Ticlo’s petrol pump said.
Surprisingly, the petrol pump refused to swipe debit and credit cards as the banks had blocked the access, the petrol pump officials claimed.
