Book market sees 80% decline in biz

JAIPUR: Iniyat Pathan from Jodhpur came to Jaipur this month to join a coaching institute for appearing in sub-inspector examination to be held in February 2017. He was unaware that the demonetization move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 will disrupt his study plans indefinitely. Pathan has not been able to purchase books and stationary required for his studies.
TOI caught him at Chaura Rasta on Tuesday afternoon counting the small denomination notes outside a book shop for making payment of his purchase.“I am dead shock when I will able to buy all books and stationary . What I had was Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes which became illegal after the ban. I have purchased some books today and required more which I have no idea when I would be able to,“ said Pathan.
Similarly , thousands of students in Jaipur are struggling to sustain the currency ban wave.
Standing next to Pathan at the same book shop, a student from Sawai Madhopur, Pallavi Gaur was seen waiting for the delivery of her books. She took a week to arrange funds for her travel and to purchase books in state's biggest book market in Chaura Raasta. She is preparing for the JNV examination and required books which are available at three, four shops in the market. “I am looking for second hand books so that I can save some money . It took a lot of effort from my father to arrange legal tenders,“ said jittery Gaur, who is not leaving chance to save even Rs 1.
The low purchasing power of students have impacted the book selling business. The evergreen book market which attracts buyers from across the state has gone down by 80% due to currency ban. Even in November, when dealers usually see spurt in sale of books, guess papers and competitive exam books, the market wears a deserted look.
Sita Ram, owner of Deepak Book Depot, said, “This month, I sell books worth Rs 20,00025,000 per day . The demonetization has reduced the business to Rs 3,000 on an average.“ He also informed that how a girl from Jobner came to purchase books with Rs 2,000 new currency was not able to purchase anything.“She literally cried when all book sellers including me refused to accept Rs 2,000 note for Rs 550 books,“ said Ram.
As this year Class VIII and V examinations are also lined-up, the books are widely available in the market. The book sellers say that this examination is lined up in January and if the shortage continues, they are likely to incur heavy looses.