The closed shops in the city portray a picture of staunch and successful protest of traders against the LBT. But, the real story lies behind these shutters. 'Forced' to participate in the agitation, the traders though appear to be in unison with the traders' federation, are doing some brisk 'back door' business taking advantage of the deadlock. dna reporters and photographers stroll through Laxmi Road to bring you the real picture.
Even as traders associations have tried every trick in the book from threatening traders with hefty fines to blackening their faces lest they do business, in Pune’s shopping hub - Laxmi Road - small and medium-sized traders, defying the ongoing strike, have begun to show the first signs of cracking up.
From back door entries to brisk sales through half open shutters, the traders are finding innovative ways to escape the attention of the ‘agitating associations’ and yet managing to make a quick buck.
On Wednesday afternoon, between 2 pm to 4 pm, a team of dna reporters fanned out on Laxmi Road and adjoining lanes and here’s what we found:
Carry bags turned ‘inside-out’
Most of the big retail showrooms were closed for business with boards declaring local body tax (LBT) strike put up at their entrances. However, back door entries were open to these showrooms. When our team entered these showrooms posing as customers, the sales staff said that only old orders were being handed over and no new purchase could be made.
However, a few medium-sized wholesale garments stores seemed to be doing brisk business taking advantage of other striking traders. For example, our team was approached by a few salesmen of a ladies garments store near City Post which has two shops in the same area, asking if they wanted to buy clothes.
On entering the shops, our team found them packed to capacity with women shopping for the wedding season. In fact, our team even made a purchase and observed a unique thing – the shopkeeper packed the garment in a bag that was turned inside out so that the name of the shop wasn’t visible.
Shop, but outside my ‘shop’
While most electrical shops were closed, our team did find a few shops selling kitchen and home appliances through half open shutters. For example, at one such shop in Kunte Chowk, the shopkeeper refused to allow the team to come inside the shop and said that he would show all products and make the sale outside the shop. The reason – if customers are allowed to enter the shop, then the shopkeeper will be fined Rs11,000.
Finally, he did sell us a few items but outside his shop.
Full shopping, no billing please
Nearly one in every two shops on main Laxmi Road, Kunte Chowk and Narayan Peth were open for business. While the shops on the main road were working with half shutter down, those in the basement of shopping complexes or lanes were working normally. In another men’s garment shop, our team purchased a shirt and were given a bill with no date. The reason – the ‘association’ finds no proof of sale.
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