Take A Walk With Vegetables

By Partho Burman

You relish us with gusto. I am Ladyfinger. I am Onion. Well, I am Potato and I am Pumpkin. We all belong to the vegetable family. You know us very well because we are your daily need, the favourite eatables for the human beings and herbivorous animals. We begin our long journey from the dusty agricultural field with the help of farmer brothers, who toil hard to cultivate us. And, our journey ends up in the kitchens of yours.

However, on way to your kitchens, the farmers take us on tour to the local mandi or market for sale. The 'shabby looking' vendors lay us on the earthy floor or on the roadside and resort to shouting to woo potential customers. Then, the debate of bargaining erupts that ends up only after the buyers and sellers have settled for a negotiable price. Of late, we have traveled a long way from the roadside to the air-conditioned retail outlets. Although we were happy earlier, we are enjoying these days too. We are readily available and appear as garden fresh. We are placed on several racks, where the uniformed salesboy and salesgirl keep rubbing us every moment to give us a fresh look. Moreover, the price tag is placed on us, hence, our customers who arrive in vehicles seldom bargain, rather straight away ask the attending salesman to weigh and pack. Thanks to the concept of veggie retail outlet, at least, we are not dumped for getting rotten at the cold storage, anymore.

The above-said story would be the first hand account any vegetable would share, if they are ever asked to document their sudden but comforting journey from baskets of a roadside green grocer into the well designed shelves of an air conditioned retail shop in the metros. But, if one tries to get the view of the street side vendors about the concept of retail outlets selling vegetable, one receives a mixed idea of their desperation. Meet Ramlal, a street side vendor who sounds least concerned about the issue when he says, “Babuji in fact, we will never go short of customers, no matter what may comes? The demand for vegetables will remain the same for a section people. Moreover, here you get an array of variety, ranging from Palak to Papita, but check out for the variety at the outlets, you hardly get the same. However, a section of people do prefer going to such outlets.”

However, many vendors think otherwise. Lots of vendors think they are suffering heavily due to these retail outlets. Sheikh Nizamuddin, general secretary, Shiv Fruits and Vegetables Market Association replied when asked about the same: “Yes, the vegetables vendors have suffered badly due to opening up these retail outlets. Selling vegetable is the poor and illiterate man’s job and these outlets are here to boot poor man business. The proprietors of these outlets are rich enough to incur loss but who cares about us. I do not find any appropriate reason as to why Reliance is selling vegetables, instead of mobile. It is like big fish eating up small fish?”

Speaking to Headlines India Amit Singh, a regular customer of Big Apple (a big player in the organised retail market) commented, “After a hard day in the office, I love to walk in the air-conditioned outlet, where you rarely find any dust on the vegetables. May be, it costs you a bit higher than the street side vendors, but I am ready to pay for the comfort.” However, Swati, another regular to Reliance Fresh (Mukesh Ambani led retail chain) brings out a dark side of such outlets when she says, “These outlets have dual policy. During afternoon hours they keep inferior quality vegetables, but in the evening they replace it with good one.” When Headlines India team approached to the management of one of the outlet inquiring the same, the manager declined to comment.

The issue of multinational corporate houses and private players entering into the retail sector has already become an issue, dividing diferrent section of the populace (politicians, businessman, small time vendors) across different ideological lines. In that context, it becomes imminenet on the part of the government to come out with a well thought plan, keeping in mind the interests of the parties involved in the issue encompassing in itself certain elements, which can spring boil the matter into a stage of social crisis.

About the Author: Partho Burman is a reporter working with http://www.headlinesindia.com an upcoming news portal and media house based out of New Delhi, India.

Source: www.isnare.com
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