Shillong: Vendors relocated from the footpaths of Laitumkhrah to Brightwell Market at Barik have expressed concern over a sharp decline in sales, saying their daily earnings have fallen drastically since the relocation.
Several women vendors operating at the market said that although their stalls are stocked with a variety of goods, customer turnout and actual purchases remain extremely low. On many days, they said, they struggle even to recover the money spent on purchasing their stock.
According to the vendors, while operating from the footpaths in Laitumkhrah, some could record daily sales of around ₹3,000 to ₹4,000. Since shifting to Brightwell, however, they claimed their daily sales have dropped to just ₹300 to ₹400.
The vendors said many people who visit the market appear to come merely to look around rather than shop, making the place feel “more like a fair than a market.” They said this has made it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods.
One woman who sells cooked food described the situation as particularly difficult, saying she sometimes prepares just one kilogram of meat for an entire day but is unable to sell even that. On some days, she claimed, only around a quarter kilogram gets sold.
The vendors have appealed to residents of Shillong to visit Brightwell Market and support them by purchasing from the stalls. They stressed that a wide range of goods is available and said increased public patronage would help them sustain their livelihoods following the relocation.
