Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 30 : While the markets earlier used to remain jam-packed on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, this year, that scene is quite missing from Kashmir markets as the shopkeepers are holding inflation as well as the shirking of income sources responsible for the situation.
In Srinagar, Goni Khan Market, which used to be full of people 2-3 days ahead of Eid, is these days witnessing scare presence of the customers, while as the shopkeepers said that they are also witnessing a decrease in the number of customers which they used to witness ahead of Eid.
“Earlier, two Eids were not celebrated due to COVID even as this market used to be jam-packed ahead of such a festival, but today you can see there is ample space, fewer people roaming around in the market,” Manzoor Ahmad one of the shopkeepers said.
He said that the customers are carrying out less and nominal shopping because of inflation. “The budget of a common man is shrinking as prices rise with every passing day and there is less room for making savings,” he said
He said that people are not able to buy the things of need even as he claimed that people do not seem to be happy. “People are literally not in a position to buy things, but they have to; it is all due to compulsion that people are coming out,” he said.
Another shopkeeper said that they are trying to finish off the stocks that were bought especially for Eid. “We are selling goods just to finish the stock, not much profit because we cannot handle it if it becomes a liability,” he said.
The shopkeepers said that their business has shrunk and the middle-class people are facing the music when they have to get the necessary items on Eid despite facing a huge financial crunch.
“The business has shrunk; the situation was somewhat same earlier as well but after 2019, and then the COVID, the things have become difficult not only for the business-people but also for the general masses as well, “Mehmood Ahmad, another shopkeeper said.
He said that the middle class has been pushed to the wall due to inflation, as well as the unemployment and the lack of income sources of people. “People are coming out to shopping in less number because people do not have money,” he said.
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