Food comes free for masses

BEYOND BUSINESS

BILAL HUSSAIN

Persistent protests and curfew might have taken a heavy toll on their income and business, yet the masses from some areas of the Valley on Thursday generously gave away food grains free to the people in hospitals and in some curfew hit areas.
In their endeavor they had equal partners the traders who offered not only edible items but provided free transport services as well. “It is over third week now that our shops are closed but this doesn’t stop us from serving people who need us the most in these though times. We are doing it for free,” said a shop owner, Abdul Qadeer.
Local welfare groups who usually look after affairs limited to their areas were busy collecting food grains and money for distributing to the needy people from other areas. “We are collecting food items within our locality and are planning to send it to those who desperately are in need of it particularly in hospitals and in downtown area,” said a local from HMT area.
This time traders are going beyond business and no more talk about profits, instead natters social responsibility. A trader said, “You make profits everyday. But today it was a moment when one could not think of profits. If others can unite, can’t we stand together?”
Youth from all walks of life too showed their interest in collecting and distribution of relief items here. “I think collectively it is responsibility of all of us to provide food to all our brothers and sisters who have been put under siege. All are helping and contributing, I too am doing my bit,” said a youth from outskirts of Srinagar.
Earlier, President, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers' Federation (KTMF), Mohammad Sadiq Baqal told Kashmir Times that from past three weeks almost all traders across valley haven’t taken any fresh supplies.
Due to the ongoing restrictions and protests following the recent civilian killings by troopers, markets in the valley remained closed from past few weeks. “Traders haven’t been able to open their shops and couldn’t serve the people here,” said Baqal.
Traders here said that older stocks is still lying with them and is not exhausted. “It is case with one and all traders here particularly from the downtown area,” he added.
The strike has badly affected the imports to the Valley. "On an average over hundreds of trucks on daily basis come to the Valley with vegetables and fruits," said a local transporter, adding that it is now like “a crisis situation for Kashmir.”
Besides a severe shortage of stocked food items like rice, flour, pulses, sugar, and many other commodities residents are having a tough time in procuring daily items like milk, bread, and vegetables. “From past so many days I am looking for baby powder milk for my eight month old infant but none of my attempts could fetch me it,” said a desperate father of a child, Basharat Ahmad.