A vegetable vendor at Vasant Kunj’s Monday Market, Rinku, uses light emitting diode (LED) at night to illuminate his stall. “Earlier I used to light a tube and before that a kerosene lamp.” He has been using LED lamp for six months now.
At a time when no subsidised kerosene is being issued in the Capital, LEDs are transforming the nature of lighting by opening up new possibilities.
LEDs emit directional light as against the bulbs that spread light spherically. LED lamps are also more luminous.
Another vendor, Vinod, gave the reason for the switchover to LED. “Cylinders are costlier. These lights are cheaper.” Vinod pays Rs.20 per day for the LED lamp he hires on an everyday basis. “Even at home I use a cylinder to cook. Kerosene is long gone.”
Rakesh is one of the LED lamp suppliers at the Monday Market in Vasant Kunj and charges Rs.20 for one. “I charge these lights at home. The rates of the vegetables also get affected because of the cost that the vegetable vendors incur on lighting.”
Lallan Chaudhry, another vendor, has kept a gas cylinder for emergency use.
There are two sizes of LEDs that the vendors use. The bigger one costs Rs.30 and the smaller one cost Rs.20. Kerosene used to sell for Rs.15-20 per litre.
Apart from the LEDs, the vendors also use CFL lights, tubes run on batteries and diesel generators. Jaikishan from Najafgarh said he finds CFL use good enough.
Kerosene has also lost out due to its smell. Raju, a clothing vendor, said: “Kerosene is not available anywhere in the market.”
Rajesh, a mango seller, added that heat from the kerosene lamps used to spoil the fruits kept around them. “LEDs are the best,” he said.
(With inputs from Vartika Sharma and Abhinav Kirti)
