ABDUL WAHAB KHAN | NT
PANAJI
Christmas, one of the biggest religious festivals, is just days away but the usual buzz in the markets across the state is missing as the demonetisation has cast its ‘shadow’ on the preparations.
As the purchasing power of an average person is plummeted with tight caps on withdrawal of cash from banks and money vending machines, Christmas shopping has been hit hard.
“We are thinking twice before buying the usual Christmas decorations. We are going to buy less decorative material such as stars, balloons, serial lights, Christmas trees and crib sets. We will not prepare more sweets because of the limited cash,” said Claudia Fernandes, a resident of Caranzalem.
John D’Mello, a resident of Siolim, who was making Christmas-related purchases, said, “We can shop for clothes or food items since cards are accepted. But the sale of decorative items is mostly cash-based.”
Like John there are many shoppers, who have been hit hard by the cash crunch in the wake of demonetisation. Many expressed displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision.
“Usually we go for party after midnight mass to celebrate Christmas, but this time we will have to think twice before spending on parties. I had gone with a debit card to give an order for a Christmas cake but the shop owner told me that he does not have a swipe machine, and hence I have decided to prepare the cake at home. I will definitely spend less cash on Christmas purchases because it is difficult to know when the Union government would change the rules,” said Sandra Gonsalves, a homemaker from Porvorim. Demonetisation seems to have affected the sweet preparation plans of homemaker Shirin D’Souza as she had to curtail the expenditure.
“Every year I prepare six different varieties of sweets, and also distribute them among my neighbours and friends, but this Christmas I will not be able to purchase ingredients in large quantities, the sale of which is mostly cash-based. I will not prepare chocolates and toffees and restrict to only dodol and neoreo. I won’t be even thinking about giving traditional Christmas gifts to family and friends,” D’Souza lamented.
The cash crunch has forced a 26-year-old Eclair Gama to drop her plans to celebrate her mother’s birthday, which is two days before Christmas.
“I have little cash in hand and there are two occasions that I need to spend cash on. I am in a confused state. I don’t want to drop my mother’s birthday celebration plan, which I had decided before the demonetisation was announced. But with limited cash I would be only able to give a gift on her birthday,” she said.
“I have exhausted my weekly cash withdrawal limit in paying debts, and so I don’t have enough money with me. I will not be able to stitch a new suit or buy trendy clothes for my family as the price tags are disheartening. I will wear my old suit. I will have to borrow money to buy necessary items,” said Antonio Pires, a resident of Salvador do Mundo.
A housewife from Taleigao, Maria Soares said that “with no cash in hand we are going to prepare less food and sweets and also invite less people for our annual Christmas party. We want to celebrate this Christmas with full enthusiasm but all my money is in the bank and I don’t have enough cash in hand to celebrate the festival as it was celebrated last year.”
George Martin, a resident of Bambolim, said, “Usually, we used to celebrate Christmas with friends and family with a great pomp. But this year, demonetisation has spoilt our plans. I have limited cash to spend. Though I will get my salary on December 23, it will be very tedious to withdraw the cash. So, this time, we are planning to celebrate the festival without much decoration and lavish food.”
Francis Braganza, a resident of Corlim said, “With only few days to go for Christmas, we are still to decide on our expenditure. But, we will definitely spend much lesser on home decoration, and distribute less sweets to our neighbours. We don’t have change to buy grocery items, and no vegetables and meat vendors accept cards. My children are very upset over the demonetisation, which has affected us badly.”