West Bengal to build a jewellery park to rehabilitate gold artisans

Many gold artisans have lost their jobs due to demonetization and the West Bengal government plans to rehabilitate them by building a jewelry park - it will be the third of its kind and will be in the vicinity of Belgharia Expressway in Howrah.
The place has road links to Kolkata, Howrah, Kharagpur and Durgapur and is hardly 12-Km from the central business district while the airport is at a distance of 22-Km.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 14 February 2017.

The proposed jewellery park, pegged at Rs 80crore, will be developed as a public-private-partnership project on an eight-acre plot and the authorities are in negotiations with an Italian company who will prepare the design of the park. The plan is to complete construction within two years. There will be a two-storeyed Standard Design Factory (SDF) and its upper floor will accommodate 1,000 manufacturing units and employ at least 25,000 gold artisans at a time.
The park will cater to both retail and wholesale customers with special thrust on export of gems and jewellery.
Of course, there is a similar hub at another location just a few kilometres away which raises questions about viability of having two similar hubs so near to each other.


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New luxury cruise liner Seabourn Encore is labeled as 'sexiest ship at sea'

Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat gets a new look

200-year-old banyan tree uprooted by cyclone Vardah replanted in Chennai


The curse of social media – cold blooded murders committed

Saraswati Puja means entering a new phase of life

Moody on UFO, Mangalyaan and Moon Mission for monkey baat (satire)


Naomie Harris gets Oscar nomination in the best-supporting actress category for Moonlight

Nicole Kidman could earn $8 million if she writes her autobiography

Sets of the film Padmavati in Jaipur vandalised, Bhansali cancels shooting


Mayor of London worried about ISIS attacks on the city

Militants in Indonesia looking for women terrorists

Six people shot dead by gunmen in a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers

Snowfall in Kumaon hills is attracting foreign tourists, but not like previous years

Recent snowfall coupled with the nippy climate in the Kumaon hills is attracting tourists to places like Munsiyari, Kausani, Chaukori and Ranikhet. These had been reeling under the impact of demonetisation but, hotels are now fully booked for the New Year.
Places like Munsiyari and Thal had received snowfall on December 25. Subsequently, tourist numbers had picked up and over 7,000 tourists have visited Munsiyari in the last few days.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 30 December 2016.

Hoteliers feel that if the trend continues, they would be able to recover some of the profit from their business which had been hit due to demonetisation. Of course, cash availability still remains grim because most ATMs are out of cash. Tourists who are arriving are carrying cash with them since it is not possible to depend on ATM withdrawals or net banking.
Other places like Chaukori, Kausani and Ranikhet have also seen a steady influx of visitors who want to usher in the New Year in sylvan surroundings. Unfortunately, there is no rush of tourists this year unlike other years and, those who are visiting are unable to purchase local goods due to paucity of cash - that, in turn, is affecting the local economy of the area.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

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Demonetisation effect in Varanasi - daily sale of Banarasi saris down from Rs 20 crore to Rs 4 crore

One of the items associated with Varanasi is its Banarasi sari and, this famed product has seen its business shrink from Rs 20 crore to Rs 4 crore per day and this city is the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The familiar sight of wholesale buyers has practically died down in the localities where the sari are made ever since the note recall was announced on November 8 and curbs placed on withdrawals from bank accounts.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 26 December 2016.

Varanasi has nearly one lakh-plus handloom weavers and they are not able to find buyers any more because it's a cash market. The saris would sell for anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 and, now, the weavers are ready to sell them for as low as Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, without any profit.
The art of creating Banarasi saris thrived during the Mughal period because the nobles and the rich loved to cover themselves in silk, gold and silver. Way back in the 14th century, artisans from Iran and Iraq came to Varanasi and settled down here.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Annual Dasara exhibition at Doddakere Maidan extended till January 8

The annual Dasara exhibition at Doddakere Maidan that had been inaugurated on October 1 and was to conclude on December 25 (Sunday) will now be on till January 8 because the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) has decided to extend it by another two weeks after exhibitors complained of losses owing to demonetisation.
Bengaluru-based Fun World and Resorts had bagged this year’s contract for 137 stalls, the entertainment zone and the food court for ₹4.11 crore but, demonetization of high value notes turned out to be bad for business.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 25 December 2016.

The contractor brought the matter of losses to the notice of the authorities and, the KEA decided to extend the exhibition by two more weeks. KEA will collect maintenance expenses from the contractor for the extension period and the extension will also bring in additional revenue to KEA from the gate collection and parking fees.
The exhibitors had complained that they had suffered losses of up to 30 per cent this year.
The KEA had anticipated 12.5 to 13 lakh visitors this year and expected to earn more than ₹2.5 crore from gate collection and parking fee, but it could get no more than ₹2.2 crore. Incidentally, the exhibition had a fairly good start but, the exhibitors began to feel the pinch after the Centre withdrew the ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes early in November.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Multiplex plan shelved - Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain of cinemas to reopen

There were pans to convert the Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain of cinemas in Kolkata into multiplexes and, that has apparently been shelved because of demonetization. In 2017, this chain of cinema halls is expected to reopen.
Minar and Bijoli theatres had downed shutters on July 1, along with Chhabighar - these will reopen next year in their original single-screen theatre format.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 21 December 2016.

The chain of cinemas had suffered losses and had plans to convert the cinema halls to two-screen multiplexes attached with shopping malls. But, after demonetization, those who were involved in building the malls went on the backfoot. The owner has decided to reopen the cinemas as they were.
Movie buffs of a certain age will recall that the Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain meant watching first-day first-shows of Uttam-Suchitra blockbusters. Closure of these theatres had been a huge blow to them. Hence, news of their reopening means an ideal situation - blues of demonetization have become a blessing in disguise.
Haripriya Pal had built Chhabighar in 1930 and, later, added Bijoli in 1935 and Minar in 1942. The were single-screen halls and did good business. Bijoli could accommodate more than 900 viewers, while Minar and Chhabighar had a capacity of 850 plus and 670 viewers respectively.
If everything goes right, the halls will reopen in January.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Baba Ramdev says his association with the BJP is "a thing of the past"

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev is unhappy with the way things are happening around him. He has apparently gone on records as saying that the demonetisation effort has triggered a scam of "Rs 3-5 lakh crore" due to corrupt bankers. This needs to be exposed.
He has also said that his association with the BJP is "a thing of the past".
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 17 December 2016.

The U-turn of Baba Ramdev is strange because he had always been a proponent of the demonetisation and a supporter of Modi. It may be recalled that he had led an anti-corruption agitation during UPA rule and had asked the then government to ban high-denomination currency notes.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation on November 8, Baba Ramdev had lauded the decision. And, he is ruing that - he feels the Prime Minister had been "misled by corrupt bankers" and that the demonetisation could have been implemented better.
Ramdev had campaigned for Modi ahead of the 2014 general election but Ramdev appears to be upset with the demonetisation because it has affected the sales if his company, Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. He has sensed the rising discontent among the poor against the demonetisation and is apprehensive that it could hurt the economy and Patanjali's expansion plans.
Incidentally, his comments coming ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh is significant. He is believed to wield plenty of influence in the state and had recently met chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and heaped praises on them.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org
Use of wild animals banned in 21 circuses in Kolkata

Giraffes may soon vanish from the face of the Earth

Book comes back to the library after 130-years


Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh sees more footfalls of Indians rather than foreigners

Legendary Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas celebrates his 100th birthday

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Kolkata Book Fair 2017 - a victim of demonetisation

Kolkata Book Fair 2017 has hit Bengal's publishing industry very hard - many publishers have cut down on new releases before the prestigious Book Fair which is organized by the Publishers and Booksellers Guild. The fair would be inaugurated by Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on January 25 - the focal theme country would be Costa Rica.
The general secretary of the fair has indicated that regional players have been forced to cut down on new releases by half because of the growing uncertainty on whether books would sell at the fair given the demonetization.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 14 December 2016.

Last year, the fair had seen sales of nearly Rs 25 crore and, this time, the biggest challenge would be to ensure we reach that mark. Of course, English titles have not been hit that hard because it has a higher business volume and a pan-India market.
New releases usually start appearing on the stands by December-end to get maximum mileage at the fair but, this year, that process has taken a beating because laborers who are engaged in binding new printed books have demanded that they be paid only in cash. Nearly 5,000-odd new titles are released every year, targeting book lovers who attend the fair.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org
Use of wild animals banned in 21 circuses in Kolkata

Giraffes may soon vanish from the face of the Earth

Book comes back to the library after 130-years


Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh sees more footfalls of Indians rather than foreigners

Legendary Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas celebrates his 100th birthday

Spider-Man: Homecoming - first trailer released


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Demonetisation hits tourism hard in Kumaon - few takers for 'bal mithai'

Demonetisation has hit tourism hard in the Kumaon region and state government-run hotels are witnessing a drop of 30% in the number of tourists arrivals in the last one month. The sale of woollen products and Almora’s iconic sweet dish ‘bal mithai’ have also been hit hard.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 12 December 2016.

Usually, popular tourist destinations like Munsiyari and Chaukori are fully booked for Christmas and year-end celebrations every year but such prospects appear bleak this year. During this time of the year, tourists from Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi arrive to visit the hills which have abundant sunshine and great views of the Himalayan peaks - this year, it is down to a trickle.
Similarly for homestays run by village women - they are also facing the brunt of demonetisation. Some of the foreign tourists had to cut short their trip because of the prevailing cash crunch. Women who run homestays, are unable to withdraw cash for buying grocery and other necessary items for tourists.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org
Use of wild animals banned in 21 circuses in Kolkata

Giraffes may soon vanish from the face of the Earth

Book comes back to the library after 130-years


Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh sees more footfalls of Indians rather than foreigners

Legendary Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas celebrates his 100th birthday

Spider-Man: Homecoming - first trailer released


Two schoolgirls turn suicide bombers and kill 56 in a Nigerian market

All is not well in Europe - 1750 ISIS jihadists have returned to carry out attacks

Anonymous caller threatens terror attack in Los Angeles near a Hollywood theme park

No takers for books in book fair at Bangur in North 24-Parganas

There were 50 odd book stalls in the book fair at Bangur in North 24-Parganas but, no one was visible who wanted to buy any book. Most of the visitors to the fair had gathered in front of a giant stage on the other side of the sprawling premises to watch a local version of Dance India Dance.
This book fair at Bangur is one of many that are held in the run-up to the Kolkata International Book Fair in January - but, the dance program was attracting larger crowds compared to the book stalls.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 11 December 2016.

Book publishing is an unorganised sector and employs about 1.5 million people directly in Bengal - this is as per the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, which organizes such book fairs in Kolkata which usually start at the beginning of December and continue through the winter.
However, given the prevailing condition due to demonetization, the booksellers, publishers and stall owners are unable to recover the cost. Last year, 700 publishers had participated in Kolkata International Book Fair and, this year, 1,500 have applied. It is not known how many will finally be able to participate. This is because all payments are made in cash by the small publishers. They receive cash from the booksellers and pay the printer, proofreader, binder or even writers in cash. But, the unavailability of cash has crippled the industry.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org
Use of wild animals banned in 21 circuses in Kolkata

Giraffes may soon vanish from the face of the Earth

Book comes back to the library after 130-years


Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh sees more footfalls of Indians rather than foreigners

Legendary Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas celebrates his 100th birthday

Spider-Man: Homecoming - first trailer released


Two schoolgirls turn suicide bombers and kill 56 in a Nigerian market

All is not well in Europe - 1750 ISIS jihadists have returned to carry out attacks

Anonymous caller threatens terror attack in Los Angeles near a Hollywood theme park

Demon of demonetisation haunts low cost airlines with fears of fraud

Demonetization has brought with it a problem for low cost airlines - it is the fear of card fraud as they switch over to go cashless for on-board sales. The problem is that card fraudsters could 'buy' eatables and drinks mid-air by swiping stolen cards. However, whether the transaction has been approved or not will be known only when the plane lands and the swipe machine is connected online to its bank.
By the time the airline realizes that a card swipe has been declined, the passengers would have alighted from the plane and gone away.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 8 December 2016.

The problem would be less when landing in big cities or metros is involved like like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai because the swipe machine will get connected quickly and it will be possible to detect any declined transaction in time. However, in smaller towns where connectivity is an issue, this will prove to be a challenge.
Once the fraud is detected, the airlines will have to follow a tedious legal procedure and such a long-drawn procedure may not be worth it for a declined transaction of small amounts like Rs 200.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Make in Odisha conclave attracts investment of more than Rs 22000 crore on first day

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Ohio student stabs people with a butcher knife before being shot dead

Ukraine plans missile tests, Russia responds by sending warships to the Black Sea

London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator


Sir Roger Moore says he could play James Bond once again

President Putin grants Russian citizenship to Hollywood star Steven Seagal

US President Barack Obama presents Medal of Freedom to Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Diana Ross and Bill Gates

Annual Poush Mela in Santiniketan - traders want extension

Traders who will put up stalls at the annual Poush Mela in Santiniketan have requested that the fair be extended by a week. That way they can recover some of their investments at a time when there is a cash crunch because of demonetization.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT)has ruled that the fair cannot be extended beyond the stipulated three days. The Poush Mela starts on December 7 and should end within three days but, it usually continues unofficially till end-December.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 4 December 2016.

The fair is organist jointly by Visva-Bharati and the Santiniketan Trust. History has it that Rabindranath Tagore's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, had bequeathed his properties to the Santiniketan Trust. As per documents, the Poush Mela is supposed to be held for three days.
Incidentally the fair was started in 1894 by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore with the idea of promoting local handicrafts. Tourists from all over the country and also from across the world visit Poush Mela to pick up the handicrafts created by local artisans.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Visva-Bharati slashes its budget for this year's annual art-and-craft fair

Demonetisation has left its mark on this year's a cut in the budget of its annual art-and-craft fair in Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan to a fifth of last year's figure.
Lat year, the budget was Rs 2.5 lakh last year and, the university has indicated that it will not be able to spend more than Rs 50,000 - this is in view of the cash withdrawal limit set by the Centre which is Rs 24,000 per week. The university has also decided to reduce the prices of the artefacts due to the cash crunch.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 30 November 2016.

The fair usually displays artefacts like paintings, sculptures, jewellery, diaries, calendars and stationery that are made by teachers and students of Kala Bhavana and is held in the art department compound. Known as the Nandan Mela, it started 43 years ago to commemorate the birthday of painter Nandalal Bose. It is held on December 1 and 2 every year.
Nearly 12,000 to 15,000 people visit the fair every day and the university has given the students an advance of Rs 40,000 with a request that thy chip in with some money, if possible.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Tourism in Hazarduari palace and Motijheel Destination Park drops due to demonetisation

Tourism in Bengal has taken a beating in favorite tourist spots like the Hazarduari palace and Motijheel Destination Park in Murshidabad due to demonetization.
The Archaeological Survey of India maintains Hazarduari and it has revealed that the number of tourists this November was 40 per cent less than that in October. Similarly in Motijheel Destination Park. This has an artificial spring and clay models apart from a light-and-sound show on the history of Murshidabad. But, footfalls here has halved since November 9 - that was the day after the demonetization drive was announced.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 28 November 2016.

The situation at other tourist hotspots in Santiniketan in Birbhum is also dismal. Hootel bookings in both Murshidabad and Santiniketan had come down drastically as a result of lack of tourists following the cash crunch precipitated by the demonetization.
At Hazarduari (constructed in 1829), old Rs 500 notes are being accepted at the ticket counter, but the number of visitors has not improved. As an official has indicated - there has been a 40 per cent drop in the number of visitors this November in comparison with the figure in October. The ticket price per person at Hazarduari is Rs 15.


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Tourism in Darjeeling, Dooars and Puri hit by demonetisation

Demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has taken its toll on tourism and has squeezed out the spirit of wanderlust among Kolkatans. Holiday trips normally planned for the December-January period are being put on hold and the effect is felt on bookings for trips to Darjeeling, Dooars and Puri.
These are the eternal favourites and, booking for these have come to a virtual halt since November 8. Foreign travel, too, has slowed down by about 15%, as revealed by travel agents.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 20 November 2016.

With the current situation, unless one has enough cash and easy accessibility to money, traveling is a risk. Confirmation of hotel rooms booked in Darjeeling and across the Dooars has come down to a trickle post-demonetization and there could be cancellations if the limit on bank withdrawals remains.
The December-January period is the time when budget travelers come to Darjeeling and Dooars and usually book hotels in advance. They also depend on cash saved over a period of several months. Tour operators feel that Darjeeling could see a 25% drop in tourists this winter.
As far as foreign travel is concerned, Southeast Asia and the Gulf are the most preferred destinations between December and March and here traffic could plunge by 20%. The Thailand-Singapore-Malayasia-Hong Kong and China circuits are popular throughout the year and the number of travelers peak in winter. However, demonetization has affected this sector as well with advance booking of air tickets on hold.


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Demonetisation badly affects animal trade in the annual Sonpur Cattle Fair

Demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has badly affected the annual animal trade at Asia's largest cattle fair in Sonpur, Bihar. Both the buyers and sellers are in a dilemma because of nonavailability of adequate cash after demonetization.
In fact, many of them are afraid that they would come under the lens of the taxmen if they fork out money for purchase of pure bred horses and other animals where such horses can cost upwards of Rs 3 lakh.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 19 November 2016.

The worst affected are the cow and buffalo traders because sales have dipped by more than 50 per cent owing to cash shortage. Similar is the case of sheep and horses.
A cow trader had brought more than 1,600 cows and buffaloes but, because of a cash crunch, he could sell only 200 of them. Sales are conducted by cash and not through cards. AS a prospective buyer explains - he has come from Uttar Pradesh to buy cows but, the sellers are asking to be paid in new notes. There is a cap on withdrawing money from banks and, the ATMs are almost running dry.
A horse trader says that he used to sell 30 to 40 horses every year but,this year, he managed to sell only five to 10 horses out of the 2,100 that have been brought.
There are no takers for sheep either - nearly 350 sheep and goats are lined up at the fair and, so far, only 10 have been sold.
Incidentally, the fair lost its sheen when a ban was imposed on the trade of elephants in 2015 - the ban was in the wake of a complaint registered by Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi. While elephant trade was the chief attraction at the fair with no less than 250 pachyderms being brought to Sonepur from across Bihar and other states, the number has dwindled to double digits over the past few years and, this year, only 15 elephants could be seen.


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Footfalls reduce in Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ranchi after demonetisaton

Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ormanjhi, Ranchi, is one of the top hangouts in the state for animal lovers and it is experiencing a footfall slump after the demonetisation of high-value notes like Rs 500 and Rs 1000 last week.
People are rushing to banks and ATMs and there are hardly any visitors in the zoo.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 17 November 2016.

In October the zoo had seen nearly 13,000 visitors or, roughly, which means roughly 400-450 a day. This has drastically gone down by 25-30 per cent since November 9 (a day after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were abolished). In the opinion of a zoo official - when all roads are leading to banks or ATMs, who will come to watch animals.
The zoo is spread over 104 hectares and boasts of 1,200-odd animals and birds across 65 species. The entry fee is Rs 30 for adults and Rs 20 for children between three and 12.
Between 2010-11 till last year, it has been regularly increasing its earnings. In 2010-11, it had generated Rs 45 lakh in revenue following a footfall close to 3 lakh. In the next financial year, it bettered the record by raking in Rs 67.25 lakh with an additional 50,000 visitors compared to 2010-11. In 2012-13, the collection was Rs 98 lakh, with the visitor turnout being 4 lakh.
In 2013-14, the zoo entered the crore club for the first time, earning Rs 1.06 crore and registering a footfall of 4.45 lakh. Last year also the revenue touched Rs 1.20 crore following a footfall of more than 4.50 lakh.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Eateries in Chennai hit hard by demonetisation

Eateries, big or small, have been hit hard in Chennai by demonetisation. Business at small food and beverage joints as well as supermarkets and malls in the city has taken a hit following the sudden demonetisation drive.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 16 November 2016.

A juice shop owner has said that his business had declined by 75 per cent. To make matters worse, people come with notes of Rs. 2,000 and ask for change. Another tea shop owner who used to sell 150 cups a day now sells less than 50. Similarly for a man who operates a snacks and tea shop - his business had halved.
Moreover, at some smaller food outlets, owners are accepting debit card payments in order to retain customers - some of them are even swiping debit cards for bill amounts as low as Rs.30-40. The shop owners do not have much choice other than accepting debit cards payment even for amounts less than Rs.100. It would be a loss for him because he would have to pay two per cent service tax for every swipe.
Larger restaurants are also witnessing a drop in their business. But, high-value restaurants have not been affected too much since 65 to 70 per cent of customers pay by card.
In supermarkets earlier, 60 per cent of the customers used to pay by cash and, now, over 80 per cent follow that route.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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32nd Book Fair at Rabindra Bhavan, Sakchi, badly hit by sudden demonetisation

The liquidity crunch following the sudden demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has cast a shadow on 32nd book fair at Rabindra Bhavan, Sakchi, Jamshedpur. It has started with 70 stalls and will continue till November 20.
Unfortunately, the steel city residents, tired of standing in queues before banks, ATMs and post offices for valid currencies, do not have buying books high on their priority list.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 15 November 2016.

Book sellers who have come from Calcutta and other cities were not prepared with wads of notes in smaller denominations. Hence, they have been badly hit when Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes suddenly turned invalid and sales sales are down to a trickle. As one of the booksellers said - the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes happened at the wrong time.
On the first day only Rs 750 worth of books were sold when it is usually Rs 20,000 or more. One of the booksellers managed to arrange a card swiping device at his stall.
Many of the booksellers had paid a minimum of Rs 5,500 for a 100sqft kiosk and Rs 11,000 for a 200sqft one - but their business was down by 50 per cent this year. Most customers are standing for hours in queues before banks and ATMs because they first need cash to make their ends meet. Then only can they think of visiting a book fair.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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