10 am to 6 pm they run from one bus to other bus under the scorching Sun.
Running from passenger-to-passenger they end up earning Rs 200 maximum. One of them shared his plight.
Purchase price of water bottle 16.
Selling price 18.
He had to swap the load off from his head on to his shoulder supporting it by one hand (and back again) a couple of times within a minute. Why because it was unbearably inconvenient to rest there for more than a few seconds at one place.
That's all the margin? I exclaimed.
Yes sir!
These shops on bus-stand have monopoly. (This story is about the Swar-gate bus-stand in Pune India.) They get water bottles for Rs 6. They earn Rs 10. We get Rs 2 after all this (he wiped his) perspiration.
They hold licenses. We don't get hawking licenses to sell anything inside the stand because of lobbying by the shops. Police drives us out or puts us in custody if we try to sell.
In fact if we get the bottles directly at Rs 6 we can sell them at 15 so that end customer gets it cheaper by Rs 3. It's the middleman who makes it expensive to end consumer.
Commonsense economics of demand and supply!
He went on to narrate story of the 'corruption in the supply-chain': Result of a nexus among government officials, state transport officials, police and the traders/shops.
The 'hawker' who tries to unite against this practice is forced out of the supply-chain by 'divide-and-rule' policy.
And we can't afford it. I have been doing this for last two decades from the age of nine. I'm from landless farmer family with old parents at home and brothers, sisters. I'm not married. Who will (marry me)? Don't know what to do.
(By the way) Have you taken our pictures to publish in newspaper?
No. Actually I had thought of writing about economics and lack of ergonomics in your business. Now I'm going to write about your entrepreneurship and smile on your face in spite of your hardships.
I patted him and bought a bottle. What else could I've done accept for promising him to write (so that some people in power read) this.
Lost in thoughts I boarded my bus to Mumbai.
Also read a few relevant blogposts hereunder:
Discrimination-is-Cremation of Law-&-Order (Part-1)
Discrimination-is-Cremation of Law-&-Order (Part-2)
Discrimination Cremated! But How Long?
Make It Simpler, Rest Will Follow
How To Make A Difference
Raam or Krishna-Shyam: Tell me Hey Raam!
You seem Reasonable if you appear Un-reasonable
Smart-Moron Who Breaks Your Glass
Tolerate Once, Twice, Thrice?
That's how some business partnerships work
Taken-For-Granted ? You Deserve It !!
कधीतरी सापडेल का शोधता-शोधता ?
Eternally Happy!
ABCD of India Shining
