A week back, lonsang, the former President of Tibetan Sharnarthi Woollen Market consulted his community’s Panchang ‘lito’ to check when his people would start making profit.
Compared to previous years, members of this Union who stay in the city from October to February months are facing losses due to the ‘rare signs of winter’.
“I am not sure whether the lito prediction will turn true or not. But, it indicated a profitable sign from the end of December to February,’ said lonsang when asked what is he doing to deal with the loss in selling winter garments .
Meanwhile, Ugain, a senior member pointed out on the acute money crunch resulting because of the loss. “Raipur Municipal Corporation charges around Rs3.5 lakh from our Union to set up our 26 shops on a piece of land in Motibagh. At the end, we are left with hardly Rs5000 which is used for fulfilling basic necessities,” he said.
Pema, a Tibetan lady coming to Chhattisgarh for the first time said, “The turnout of customers is not satisfactory. Merely four or five families are visiting the stalls per day.”
On the other side, senior member Dolma informed that woollen clothes of kids are more in demand.
Interestingly, Tibetans send the local raw wool to North Indian states wherein big factories produce latest winter garments. Ugain said it is for this reason that several residents of Tibet shift to India in the winter season to earn their daily bread.
“In Tibet, the winter is at peak from October to February. In such circumstances, it is important to search work options so we come to India where the citizens are friendly and honest,” maintained lonsang.
The price range of woollen materials seem reasonable for the customers. Grocery Shop Owner Narendra Mendhe accompanied by his wife from Pahari Chowk said the designs and quality of Stoll is far better than other markets.