Threatened by Foreign Direct Investment.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
‘Every Little Helps,’ Tesco tells us. ‘Save money. Live better,’ promises Walmart.
So, the Indian government has announced foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector. Will Khari Baoli spice bazaar in the Walled City relocate to a purpose-built commercial zone in Sector 23, Gurgaon?
Is this the dawn of the dead?
What will happen to our sabziwallas and galli vendors?
For the subsistence level retailers, a minor drop in their earnings can cause a major drop in their calorie intake.
As tempted as you might be to shop for packaged, processed, bar-coded and MRPed cauliflower, potato and spinach, think of the impact this will have on your neighbourhood sabziwalla’s sales of gobhi, aloo aur paalak.
For him, every little really does help.
Every little helps
