The Observer Vol 21 Issue 6

The Observer an iiJnM publication

Vol. 21, Issue 6

Badly hit by lockdowns, Bengaluru’s bookstore owners hope that their pain will end soon | P 2

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Realization that Covid isn’t over is a major worry

By Tina Freese

P

Work anxiety: People are stressed out after returning to their offices post pandemic | Courtesy: eugene Freese offline. That is when I started feeling a little anxious. Socialising again after WFH felt very difficult. I was quite stressed about

how I would be able to manage the work efficiently after spending so much time in the comfort of my own home.” he said.

Rahul Parashar, a 26 year old executive with a logistics company said: “The company has meetings where our seniors give us motivational speeches, and we have many recreational activities like games and all which can help us to relax and in busting stress.”

Facing a similar issue at her workplace, Arokiya Mary Samson, Human Resource (HR) lead at Flam, an IT company in Bengaluru, observed: “The pandemic has created a lot of problems for everyone. Employees were under so much stress. They were putting in extra hours to complete their work and there is also the fear of losing their jobs.”

As an HR lead, and on the company’s behalf, she wanted to ensure that the employees did not feel they were alone. “We had game sessions, Netflix shows were streamed, and we sent gift hampers to help them release the stress and socialize with everyone. We also provided one- on one- sessions to those who were having a difficult time.” ►Continued on page 3

C-section deliveries in Bengaluru on the rise Hospitals suggest them to earn more: Experts

By Simran Sharma

O

wing to medical reasons, there has been an increase in caesarean section deliveries in Bengaluru. Experts say hospitals advise women to go for C-section to make money..

Statistics of the National Family Health Survey-5 show that about 30.6 percent of pregnant women in Bengaluru Urban had C-section deliveries whereas 43.6 percent in Bengaluru Rural had the same in the year 2019-20.

The percentage of women who had C-section at private facilities was 48.9, while that for public hospitals was 16 in Bengaluru Urban. The percentage of women in rural parts of the city who had C-section in private facilities saw

https://twitter.com/ observer_weekly Epaper: https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in

ai and security-oriented companies make up 21 percent of technology startups in Bengaluru | P 3

Employees develop cold feet as they return to their offices

eople are quite anxious as they return to their offices after a year and a half of working from home.

Mohit Kumar, a 22-year-old employee at an IT company, informed The Observer: “I felt somehwat anxious at the thought of going back to the office. But my office had many recreational activities on Saturdays that helped me cope up with the stress. I think it was not just the fear of interacting again with other that bothered me, but also that Covid is not over yet. Offices opening with full capacity now made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.”

Sahil Chodhary, 23, a coder with a startup, shared: “I worked from home for six months and then was asked to join the office

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a rise of about 15.5 percent.

Swati Singh, a homemaker, informed The Observer: “I wanted a normal delivery, but the doctor gave me a medicine to reduce my labor pain. After taking that medicine, I had no labor pain…, so I consulted another doctor and then I got to know that had caused some complications because of which I had to go through a C-section. My previous doctor gave me that medicine so that he could make me go through a Caeserean delivery and he could earn more money from it. I was lucky…to get a good

doctor in my next delivery.”

Nidhi Kumari, an engineer who had undergone a C-section in 2017, said: “My doctor told me that normal delivery was not possible as the baby was stuck inside. I had no option left as I had been in 12 hours of labor pain. I could not take more so I went ahead with a C-section.”

Ashwini MV, a digital solution manager, shared: “Both my kids were delivered through C-section.

In my case, there were certain complications and hence I had to get a C-section. The second time I decided to not go for a normal de-

livery because I thought it would have been too risky.”

Priya Deshpande, a finance associate, said: “Almost after 12 hours of trial, I had to go for a Csection as I couldn’t take the pain anymore. Although I have heard a lot of cases where women have undergone surgery as the doctor wants to get done with it or the mother is not ready to wait that long.” Insurance has made things easy as the cost of the operation is covered, Deshpande added.

Angan Sengupta, a health economist who has done research on the increase in Caesarean deliveries in Bengaluru, said: “Csection deliveries has to be used in case of complications, but ther are many other reasons for it.

Caesarean deliveries are quite less painful. With an insurance, one can easily afford a C-section.

In many cases, a lot of hospitals use this to earn more money even when it is not required.” ►Continued on page 3

News briefs SC to hear Lakhimpur Kheri matter tomorrow The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday the matter pertaining to the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in which eight persons, including four farmers, were killed during a farmers’ protest. A Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli which had on October 8 expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the UP government after the death of eight persons will hear the matter.

Kerala flood: IMD issues alerts in five districts IMD has forecast heavy rain for three days beginning October 20 in several parts of Kerala. The state government has sounded an alert in downstream areas of the Idukki dam, including suburban areas of Kochi, and begun evacuating families that could be affected by the likely flash floods.

Navy and NDRF recovering more bodies from under the debris at Koottickal in Kottayam district and Kokkayar in neighbouring Idukki district, the death toll in the landslides and flash floods climbed to 27 on Tuesday.

Babul Supriyo formally resigns as MP Former BJP leader Babul Supriyo formally resigned as an MP on Tuesday, a month after he quit the party to join Mamata Banerjee’s TMC. “My heart is heavy as I had began my political career with the BJP. I thank the PM, party chief, and Amit Shah. They showed confidence in me. I had left politics wholeheartedly. I thought that if I am not a part of the party, I should not keep any seat for myself,” he said after meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker.

India, Israel to start FTA talks in Nov India and Israel agreed to resume talks on a free trade agreement from November with the aim of signing a deal by mid-2022, both countries said. “We are continuing with our policy of connections, and we have seen in India a very important ally for many years. India also brings with her new opportunities for cooperation,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said.

CITY

2

The Observer Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Hit by 2 lockdowns, bookstore owners hope pain will end soon Say sales are not anywhere near pre-Covid level

By Saumyangi Yadav

B

ookstores in Bengaluru have faced huge losses in the past two years due to lockdowns and people’s shift to eBooks. Although conditions are improving, sales have not returned to the pre-pandemic level.

Prakash Gangaram, the owner of Gangaram Book Bureau, near Ashok Nagar, informed The Observer: “In 2020, we were closed for almost two months. This year as well, we had to close the store for two months. We faced a heavy loss during that time…. All the store expenses, like electricity bills, were there but the sales were close to nil. We are hoping there will not be a third wave.”

During the lockdowns, customers largely shifted to ebooks or ordered books online. “There are traffic and parking problem in Bengaluru. That is why even after the lockdown has been lifted, people are preferring to buy books online. It is much more convenient for them. Yes, sales have somewhat improved. But they are still far from the level… two years ago. To cope, we are planning to cut down on our expenses, maybe even shrink the

Around the city Cross-Over Music Festival Shanthala nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, 5pm, October 23 Shankar Chugani Live, 5th block, Kormangal, Bengaluru, 7pm, October 24 Rajasekhar Mammidana Live, J.P. Nagar, Bengaluru, 7pm, October 22 Pottery Workshop, HAL 2nd stage, Kodihalli, Bengaluru, 11am, October 22 Zimmedar Chehra by Pratyush Chaubey, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, 5pm, October 23 The Village by SteppinOut, Lawns, JW Marriott Hotel, Bengaluru, every Saturday, October 23 onwards Sunny Tunes, Hard Rock Cafe, Whitefield, 1pm, October 24

Quiz 1. When did India win the first T-20 World Cup? 2. Against which country will India play its first T-20 World Cup match on October 24?

3. Which player became the fastest to score 10,000 runs in T-20 cricket?

4. Which is the highest altitude cricket ground in the world?

5. Who holds the record for hitting the fastest ODI century? ►Answers on Page 3

Bengaluru’s bookstores remain largely empty as customers shift to online shopping and ebooks during the pandemic | Credit: Saumyangi Yadav bookstore,” Gangaram added.

Sindhu Ayyappa, an avid reader, said: “Even though I prefer going to bookstores and browsing books, I cannot deny that it is much more convenient to buy online. I only started getting books online during the lockdown. They cost cheaper as well.”

During the lockdowns, many bookstores started doorstep deliveries through Dunzo. But it was not profitable either.

“People are still choosing to order through the delivery service Dunzo,” Krishna Gowda, the owner of Bookworm on Church Street, said: “When people come

to the bookstore to buy one book, they usually see other books they like and end up buying more. But if they are buying through Dunzo then they just buy one book.”

Gowda faced a heavy loss during the lockdowns as he had to pay rent but had almost no sales.

Keshava R, the owner of The Bookhive, said: “For the past two or three months, we have started getting customers again, but it will be a long time till we are back to the full capacity….”

Another reason for the decrease in book sales is a rise in the popularity of ebooks. Almost all popular books are available in .pdf

and .epub formats online.

Charemathi, a college student, said: “I read a lot of books. But buying physical books is usually very expensive, especially for someone like me who reads multiple books in a month. As a student, I prefer ebooks because they are much more pocket-friendly.”

Many students didn’t buy their course books during the lockdowns as they had online classes.

Devika Gowda, a college student, shared: “Most of our course books were made available in .pdf forms by our professors. So I did not buy textbooks for the previous two semesters.”

Prerana Singh, another college student, said: “My sister is in school and has been buying all her books online recently.… As a person who likes to buy books after browsing them, I feel lost and disconnected while buying books online, but it is the only convenient way right now.”

With zero counter sales for almost three or four months, many bookstores closed down during the lockdown. The ones that survived are still trying to recover from their massive losses.

Reports say that these businesses have taken preventive measures like engaging with customers through social media and using delivery services. With Covid-19 cases decreasing by the day, bookstore owners are hoping for a better situation soon. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org

Citizen’s Voice Climate change has affected Kerala badly The floods in Kerala indicate an ecological crisis in the region.

Heavy rain in October is unusual in Kerala. Interaction of two lowpressure systems is cited as the reason for this. Also, our failure to protect the Western Ghats — a biological hotspot and an ecologically sensitive area that sustains the climate of western India — is only making things worse.

Vinaya K

The suffering of auto passengers in Bengaluru It is getting difficult to find autos and cabs from the Kengeri Metro station after 7 pm. Cab drivers cancel rides when they hear the word ‘Devagere’, while other auto drivers demand hefty amounts.

They say they do not find passengers on their return, or complain about potholes on the way. While their points are valid, it becomes an inconvenience for commuters.

Mrunmayee Kulkarni

A Diwali without our daughters Diwali is people’s favourite festival, something we look forward to. I fondly remember how my daughters would plan Diwali parties; how we would go shopping and decorate our home with lights and flowers. There is a big joy in togetherness. We will miss both our daughters, who are studying away and will not be with us to celebrate Diwali.

Anurag Sharma

Plastic straws in alcometers raise concerns

They need to be thrown in biomedical waste

By Swarali Bodas

B

engaluru Traffic Police (BTP) are using environment-unfriendly plastic straws in alcometers.

Environmentalist Akshay Heblikar, Director of the NGO EcoWatch, informed The Observer that disposing plastic in a proper way is one of the key aspect of keeping the environment healthy.

“It is their duty to carry out those tests... what they should make sure is proper disposal of those straws,” he said.

“Many things could go wrong if the straws or plastic in general aren’t disposed of correctly. Any animal could eat it and choke, it could block drainage systems, or any rag pickers or those who pick plastic could come in contact with the contaminated straws and might get infected,” he added.

Incineration and throwing the straws into biomedical waste are some of the ways to dispose of plastic straws. “They should make sure that they incinerate the plastic, not just burn it. Or

Alcometers are used by the police to check for drunken driving | Credit: Arshiya Agarwal you can keep it under biomedical waste and dispose it of appropriately. Since these are used by individuals, you can’t recycle them.”

The tests for drunken driving were resumed a few weeks ago, after nearly 19 months. After a lockdown was announced in March 2020, BTP stopped the tests in view of the pandemic.

Just a week before full-fledged

testing started, the police did surprise tests on drivers by sniffing them and taking them to the nearby government hospital for blood tests. After that, from September 25, the tests were carried out using alcometers.

Because of the fear of Covid-19, police personnel wear face masks and maintain social distancing from drivers. An alcometer, once used, is sanitized and kept in a bag for two days before being used again. All safety procedures are followed, the police say.

Harshal Salvi, a Bengaluru resident, is reluctant to take the drink-and-drive test done by the police as it has a plastic straw attached to the alcometer. “I am against using anything that is related to plastic. I’d rather do a blood test,” he shared.

S.P Shashikala, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic and Planning, said that around 600 alcometers are used by them.

“We stop drivers who we suspect are drunk and then ask them to blow into the alcometer. If the alcohol content in the blood is more than 40mg per 100mg, we book them for drinking and driving illegally. They then have to go to the court and pay the fine.”

Asked about safety, she added: “The alcometers, once used, are sanitized and kept for two days;

the straws are disposable and hence thrown in garbage.”

People sometimes refuse to use the alcometer. “We then take them to the nearest government hospital for a blood test. One drawback of that is the results often take a long time to come.”

“We resumed drink-and-drive tests in September because of rising cases. Some people refuse to get blood tests done, so we started using alcometers. Keeping Covid in mind, our cops wear masks, maintain distancing and use single-use disposable straws.

Ganesh Reddy, a Bengaluru resident, said he hesitates to undergo the test involving an alcometer. “In my last seven yeras, I’ve only been checked once. Now, in this situation, I won't be comfortable taking the test involving an alcometers.”

However, Manik Gundappa, a cab driver, is OK with undergoing the test. "Sometimes eyes get red due to lack of sleep and the police think we are drunk. I would personally take the test.”

According to Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, whoever drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle, has 30 mg per 100 mg alcohol content in his blood is punished with six months of imprisonment or fine or both.” swarali.b@ijnm.org

CITY

Need for greater efficiency drives their growth

By Shristi Achar A

O

f all the technology startups in Bengaluru, artificial intelligence (AI),drones and security- oriented firms make up 21 percent, making big data the largest product sold in the city.

Big data, as per Oracle India’s website, refers to “complex data sets…that can be used to address business problems one wouldn’t have been able to tackle before.”

According to the Start-Up India portal of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, there are 2,925 technology-related startups in Bengaluru. Of these, 621, or 21 percent, are under the AI, computer vision, robotics, safety and security solution industry types.

Several reports and studies have recently noted this upward trend, not just in Bengaluru but all across the country.

In a report titled “The future ahead: Evolving cyber security priorities in India” the Data Security Council of India, said that approximately 67 percent of its surveyed executives mentioned ‘‘improving threat management capabilities’’ as a priority in their businesses.

Analytics and Data Science India Industry Study 2020 by AIM Research explored the analytics domain across sectors. The sector, according to the report, saw a

Weather Maximum temp: 29° Celsius Minimum temp: 21° Celsius Precipitation: Nil Humidity: 62 percent Wind Speed: 10 kmph Forecast: Partly cloudy

Twitterati Talk @mathrubhumieng Idukki dam opened, more water released, vigil on river banks #Idukkidam

Team Observer Editor: Simran Sharma Reporters: Tina Freese, Saumyangi Yadav, Swarali Bodas, Shristi Achar A, Simran Sharma Copy editors: Tina Freese, Saumyangi Yadav, Swarali Bodas, Shristi Achar A Page Layout: Saumyangi Yadav, Shristi Achar A, Tina Freese, Swarali Bodas Photo editors: Tina Freese, Shristi Achar A, Swarali Bodas, Saumyangi Yadav Supplement: Maitri Seth, Ayndrila Banerjee

Most technology companies prefer to set up operations in Bengaluru, given its acceptance of innovation | Credit: Shristi Achar A growth of 19.5 percent in its revenues since 2019, with Bengaluru gaining the major share of revenues at 29.4 percent.

This comes at a time when the research and innovation behind AI are at its highest in India, driving the uptick in related startups.

Karthik Kumar, a machine learning engineer at Pixxel, Bengaluru, believes that the trend is a sign of the need for increased automation and efficiency.

“AI is often just a toolkit, the big data being the eventual product.

And all of it is in place to reduce the manual effort required by us in any given field,” he said.

Talking to The Observer about Pixxel, an aerospace company, he added: “We use GIS mapping in agricultural fields to provide realtime imaging… about crops, to help them with their crop health.

Without data analytics, this would be a time-consuming process.”

Vikshut Mundkur, co-founder and CEO at HUVIAiR Technologies, believed this is a sign of an evolving public sentiment.

“We use visual intelligence gathered by our drones to improve the efficiency of our clients’ projects, especially in areas such as real estate. This used to be a manual job before. People were quite weary of drones before. However, now it isn’t the case. Even the drone laws have eased out, with a growing acceptance towards usage of technology,” he shared.

But Anushka Jain, associate counsel, Internet Freedom Foundation, is sceptical of these developments. “In our transition from being a developing country to a developed one, technology has been identified as the missing piece. So

we have all these companies rushing to fill the gap, selling their products to the public and the government. However, when a group of engineers come together, they might have little insights into how their innovations might backfire or have adverse social effects.”

Mundkur said this misbalance is mostly because of the fact that startups are the pioneers of technology. “The technology often comes first, since startups are at the forefront of innovation. Only later do the laws and regulations catch up to regulate the practices.

What needs to happen is that the government needs to be a little ahead of the curve, and be in the loop about what technologies are being developed. This way, through public consultations, they could make laws that are beneficial to both companies that innovate as well as the general public that utilize them.”

India has no laws with regard to Artificial Intelligence, with the government prioritizing the largescale adoption of the technology and its promotion, according to the NITI Aayog’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. Simultaneously, India’s cyber security and data laws haven’t progressed beyond the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently adopted the liberalized Drone Laws 2021,doing away with some of its provisions like licences for nano drones and reducing the no-fly zone perimeters. shristi.a@iijnm.org

This day that year On this day, in 1987, stock markets around the world, especially the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Index crashed by 22 percent. Known as Black Monday, it was the biggest one-day percentage loss in history, much larger than the 1929 Great Depression or even the 2008 financial crisis. Heightened Persian Gulf crisis and computerized trading were termed as the causes.

Quote of the day "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."

—Virginia Woolf

Quiz answers Hi-

Big data companies form 21% of Bengaluru’s tech startups

3

1.September 24, 2007 2.Pakistan 3.ViratKohli 4.Chail Cricket Ground, machal Pradesh 5.AB de Villiers

The Observer Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Prolonged isolation is C-section ratio exceeds a major cause of stress WHO recommendation ►Continued from page 1 r Sumithra Sridhar, a senior therapist at Heart it Out, a Bengaluru-based mental health organization, said: “The reason behind this kind of stress is the trauma that the pandemic has had on us. It is something that has changed our lives forever. People have lost a lot during this time, so going back to a place, meeting those people again and recounting what happened to them or maybe their friends or family brings back a lot of trauma. The pandemic has also taught us that many things can be done online, from the comfort of our homes, so one doesn’t have to spend so much time on other things, say commuting. So it is out of convenience that we might choose to stay home. Other than that, we have forgotten how to be human at this point this can be a reason, the fear of socializing again for such stress.”

The fear of socializing again could be the reason for employees’ stress,. she added. It is very important to acknowledge this feel-

D

ing. People must know that what they are going through is very real. “Take baby steps, think about what can help you. Is it something you can deal with on your own, or is it something that you need help with? Lastly, don’t force yourself to socialize or do anything that you don’t want to.”

After living in isolation for more than a year, returning to normal feels like a herculean task. Employees around the globe are facing the same issue. The University of California, in a report, offered insights into how people can deal with the issue.

The report advised people facing such stress to think about what they like about their work, to try to engage themselves in some activities, and to get timely professional help if needed.

A global survey by Limeade, a US-based organization that works for the welfare of the employees around the world, found that the biggest reason for backto-work anxiety is Covid-19 exposure and reduced flexibility. tina.f@iijnm.org

►Continued from page 1 esearch by IIM-Ahmedabad in 2018 suggests that about 9 lakh preventable C-sections deliveries happened in private hospitals in one year. It also highlights that the probabil-

R

WHO says the ideal rate of Csections should be between 10 percent and 15 percent. It should be taken up only in cases where complications arise. C- sections can cause significant and permanent complications, disability or even death. ity of an unplanned C-section is about 14 percent higher in private sector facilities.

Chethana Mohan, owner of Janani Maternity Home, said that in her hospital, the ration of C-section deliveries and normal deliveries is 60:40. About 70 percent of women now go for a cesarean than a normal delivery.

Dr Aparnaa Panda, a consultant obstetrician, and gynecologist, said: “In Bangalore, C-section rate is still low as compared to cities in northern India.

Nowadays the charges for normal and cesarean deliveries are the same. I get around 40 cases of Csection in OPD. In today’s time, due to a sedentary lifestyle, food habits and high-risk pregnancies, normal deliveries are difficult.”

A C-section costs twice or thrice a normal delivery. As hospitals lack staff and time, they advise Csection. “With insurance and other schemes , many people are opting for it,” Sengupta shared.'

Dr Aruna T, associate consultant gynecologist, said: “Many women opt for surgery in fear of labor pain. A sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits indirectly leads to obesity, diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy which increases the probability of a cesarean section.”

The cost of a C-section delivery is almost the same as that of a normal delivery, she added. simran.s@iijnm.org

4

Life post lockdown Is uncertainty the new normal?

The Observer Tuesday, October 19, 2021

SUPPLEMENT

For the younger generation , life after a year-long lockdown is like breaking free from a prison, says Ayndrila Banerjee

T

he world is finally settling down after a huge storm that came in the form of a 20-nanometer sized virus called Covid.

Marketplaces are bustling, schools have reopened, people can now finally watch movies in the good old cinema halls, corporates are running to full capacity et al.

But the question still remains: Is it over? Or, has the pandemic transformed into an endemic?

There is a sense of uncertainty among people about how exactly to understand the present situation. Should they still be scared of the virus and take precautions or not?

With India opening up, to recuperate from the financial losses it suffered for over a year, things are moving back to normal. There are mixed feelings among people about this ‘new normal’, a term coined to describe covid appropriate behaviour. In other words, it is about continuing to maintain social distancing, using sanitisers liberally and wearing masks. Vac-

Pandemic Vs Endemic Endemic is when a disease is prevalent in a specific geographical location, affecting only those who live in the area. A pandemic is when it affects the entire world. Covid-19 is now believed to be an endemic as it’s spread, is confined to certain countries.

Which mask wearer are you? | Credit: Ayndrila Banerjee

cination raised hopes of people.

The vaccination drive began a year ago. It soon became the ‘new cool’, with people taking selfies to be posted on social media. Senior citizens, who were considered to be most vulnerable, were given top priority.

Lakshmi Ganguly who is 70 years old and is fully inoculated, still fears for her safety.

“I took the first dose of the vac-

cine as soon as the government made it available for us (senior citizens). Now, I am fully vaccinated. However, I am still not sure about how long I should be conscious about catching the virus. I have contracted the virus once but there hasn’t been enough evidence to show that I cannot get re-infected. I have taken the vaccine to protect myself from the virus.” She said.

“I know I am being safe, but how am I supposed to make sure if the other person is safe or not?” Ganguly added.

The initial panic among populations, when the virus first struck, may have died down.

Raja Banerjee, an office goer said: “Things have changed now. My fear of Coronavirus was based on the data which showed a higher number of cases. But now the same data is showing less number of cases.

My fear too has gone down.

Nevertheless, I am trying my level best to behave Covid appropriately. I think wearing a mask would help me deter other germs and viruses from

entering my body.”

The pandemic has been especially tough on the youth. A generation of students started their college lives online, not a pleasant experience by any standards. The young population in particular appears relieved post-lockdown. For many, it is akin to breaking free from a prison. Shreya Grover, 21, who spent two whole years in online classes and will now probably graduate online says: “Wearing a mask is almost a formality now. If we see a policeman, we pull up our marks, otherwise we hardly wear them. Only when I travel in public transport do I take efforts to adhere to Covid rules.”

Reports have not stopped making people aware of the severity of the situation. Experts all around the globe have not ruled out the possibility of a third wave . Countries like New Zealand, which were too soon to declare themselves Covid-free, are paying a price.

anydrila.b@iijnm.org

Vendors bank on hope this festive season The lockdown hit the shopkeepers of K R Market hard as they struggled to earn enough to feed themselves, writes Maitri Seth

P

ushpa, a flower vendor, lives a contended life. A life less driven by money, but with enough reasons to smile. She is cordial with her fellow vendors, never missing an opportunity to collect and disseminate any gossip.

Her husband supports her in the flower business. He brings flowers for her, cuts off extra stems and collects the leftovers.

Jaya sits in the stall, arranges the flowers, makes garlands and sells them. She is honest in her trade. She would rather face a loss than take an extra penny for her work.

The pandemic rendered her losses unbearable. It hit her business so hard that flower vending could no longer be the only source of bread and butter for her family. She has children to feed, and educate. The market was shut. So she went doorto-door to sell flowers. But even that couldn’t help her in recovering losses. She struggled for months, and somehow survived the harsh pandemic.

Pushpa is not the only vendor in K R Market who has faced the brunt of the pandemic. The Krishna Rajendra Market, also known as the city market, is the largest wholesale market for commodities in Bengaluru. The busiest one in the city, a major attraction at this place is its flower market, that is said to be one of the largest flower markets in Asia. Stepping into the place feels no less than finding a treasure, as one enters the basement. A less than ordinary building is a treat to the eyes as soon as it gets adorned with these various colours of life.

Located near the Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, this market was once a water tank and then a battlefield. It is also said that there is almost nothing that you cannot find here. From roses to napkins, you look for it and you get it. So, nobody could even think that a place like K.R. Market, that doesn’t let you take a step without bumping into ten other people, can be completely devoid of people.

K R Market adorns the colours of upcoming festive season as shopkeepers hope for financial revival | Credit: Maitri Seth

It was disheartening for Pushpa, as she witnesses it up close. “Nothing worked then.

Everything got shut, like never before. We struggled for months”, she recalled. As she mentioned about her struggles, her friend and co-vendor Jaya, a middle-aged woman, intervened. “From the past month

we are stable. Before that nothing was functioning. Presently, it’s monsoon, so the revenue is usually low,” she says as she awaits to relive the past glory of this colourful market.

But there is a ray of hope: Diwali. It is after more than a year, that a time has come when these flower vendors

could actually think of making some good profits. “We expect very good business.” “Now is the time when we can expect real good business”, the two women said in unison. True to this, there are visibly more customers in the market.

On the other hand, Shoaib Ahmad, a mechanic at K.R. Market, who deals in spare parts and other hardware, sees little hope for his trade. “We won’t make profit... as everyone is into buying and not repairing during festivals. Also, flowers have a utility during festivals.

We are yet to find an opportunity to make our business grow again. The pandemic led to a loss of Rs 2-3 lakh that is a huge amount for people like us,” he said with a frown on his face.

While some small businesses wait for Diwali with their arms open, others see a longer struggle to recover from the effects of the pandemic’s second wave. All this in one market, experiencing the different hues of life. maitri.s@iijnm.org