BHADRAK: Demonetisation has come as a curse for the Tibetans selling warm clothes. Having set up shops from the first week of November with the hope of reaping profits, their business witnessed a downward trend from the second week of the month after demonetisation was announced.
More than 30 Tibetan families from Mysuru come here for three months, from November to January, every year for selling warm clothes. A temporary Tibetan market comes up near Bhadrak Sahid Smruti Bhavan here where they sell blankets, jackets, sweaters and woollen gears.
The woollen sellers, who have never faced disappointment in the last two decades, find themselves at a loss this season. The shops wear a deserted look and some have not done any business in the last few days.
“A month has lapsed but the business is yet to pick up,” said Urgyen Liyanga. “Every year in November, we sell nearly 50 per cent of our products as Pratham Ashtami falls in the month. This year, the sale has been below 10 per cent,” Liyanga added.
Some are even unable to pay their daily rent for makeshift shops. According to an agreement with Bhadrak Club, the Tibetans have to pay `100 per day as rent for the place but the sluggish trade till now has left us at our wits’ end, said Pama, another seller.
In the last few years, there was huge demand for the woollen clothes and shopkeepers had to place orders for more stocks during mid-December, Pama added.
Meanwhile, the Tibetans, who make a business of over `1 lakh every year, are worried over repayment to moneylenders back home.
“The first thing when we return home is to repay the lenders, but with no profits this year, we are worried as to how to manage our families and repay the lenders,” Liyanga said.