Cashless celebrations; as demonetisation, cyclone dampen festive shopping

Chennai: Ranagnathan Street, a shopping hub, had decent crowds on Christmas eve but business was dull for roadside vendors. Last year, floods had wiped out Christmas season while this year there are many reasons impeding celebrations.

The city has barely recovered from the demise of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa followed by the rampaging Cyclone Vardah even as people are coming to terms with the trauma of demonetisation.

People have been spending hours in ATM and bank branch queues to withdraw cash required to buy basic commodities, let alone shop for Christmas.

For Abdul Khaddar, who has been selling socks at T. Nagar for the past 20 years, he saw a total loss this season mainly due to demonetisation. “Most of the roadside vendors here were affected and are still facing a dull business when people come with Rs 2,000 note to make their purchase.”

Another vendor Shahul spoke about the pain of losing customers. “Customers come with Rs 2,000 currency notes for a purchase of merely Rs 200 to Rs 300,” he said.

Despite facilities like wallet payment having been introduced, not many are familiar with the same. Besides the loss in business this season, Shahul also said that he was saddened by the lack of any celebration on the streets, which is a common sight each year.

“I feel it is the demonitisation trauma that is proving to be a bigger barrier this Christmas,” he added. “A drop of over 30 per cent in business is evident this year. Though many customers own credit and debit cards, they prefer to use cash in order to get change. However, as we are facing the same difficulties as they are, we find it difficult to change the notes. Many a times, they shout at us,” said Srikanth Varma, a manager of a prominent gift shop in the area, adding that it happens three or four times daily.

“At times, our staff pool out their own cash to give customers change,” he said.
Though thousands flocked the streets, most of them returned after window-shopping. “People have not recovered from demonetisation. We cannot purchase much for Christmas as there is no cash in the ATM kiosks and small shops do not accept cards,” said Shenbagam Kandasamy, an IT employee, who was hoping to do some shopping before Christmas.

Despite the struggles that so many are going through, there are a few who have still found joy this Christmas. Parthasarathy of the Nambikkai Nagar fishermen community said “I have never seen anything so strong like cyclone Vardah in the 67 years of my life. Though it has caused a lot of damage to our shelters, I can see a few Christmas stars being put up in my area, giving joy.”