Is it a case of grapes turning sour? The escalating prices of Haleem have put the common man in a dilemma. Its high price is now forcing to think twice before eating it. Literally!
This year a plate of mutton Haleem is Rs.100 and not everyone is ready to spend on it. “Hundred bucks is a big sum for many families ,” says M.A. Sayeed, a social activist.
Cashing upon the situation many roadside joints offering the chicken variety of Haleem have mushroomed across the city. A plate of chicken Haleem costs between Rs.35 and Rs.50.
“It tastes well and the quantity is good,” claims Faisal Khan, a Haleem-maker at King Koti. One can get it at roadside eateries even in colonies and thoroughfares of Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Punjagutta, Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Hi-Tec City, Madhapur and Secunderabad.
Sources in the industry say that the business is no more lucrative like it was three to four years ago. Initially mutton Haleem sold for Rs.50 a plate led to mad rush at the outlets everyday. Traffic snarls near popular outlets endorsed its sales. But the scenario has changed.
Not only the Haleem outlets, but also many pan shops and beverage stores around these joints used to had a good business.
Though many are unwilling to acknowledge it, but some feel that the business has reached a saturation point. “We feel that the price is acting as a big deterrent for many families ,” a Haleem preparer says.
