Tibetan refugees, or travelling sales persons from north India who sell winter wear are no more a part of the seasonal business in Adilabad, as it has almost been taken over by the locals.
As many as 25 of the 28 shops selling woollen garments and accessories near TNGOs home, NTR Chowk and Girls’ High School now belong to the local businessmen.
These makeshift shops sell all the winter clothing that is needed to keep people safe from biting cold.
Shafi Ahmed Khan from Mysuru, who has been coming to Adilabad for the last 17 years to sell sweaters, blankets and comforters, has seen the change happen. He was initially employed by the Tibetan refugees from Karnataka who visited this town, but later started the business independently.
“The Tibetans stopped coming here about a decade ago. They suffered huge losses as there was practically no cold during the winter months in those years,” he recalled.
“It took us a few years to grasp the intricacies of the trade,” said Sanaullah Khan, a local who has been setting up his shop since the last three years. “We have, however, restricted the sales to woollen sweaters, jackets and mufflers which we mostly bring in from Hyderabad or Nagpur,” he said.
“It’s difficult for us to store the unsold products until the next season,” said Sk. Faheem, a first-timer in the business as he cited the reason for restricting the number of products sold at his shop. “The blankets take up more space and not many of us can afford it,” he pointed out.
The turnover in the business is high enough to attract many local businessmen, despite certain limitations.
“In a good season that includes a cold wave or two, I sell around 1,500 blankets and comforters,” said the Mysuru businessman. The price of the blankets manufactured in Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana ranges between ₹180 and ₹500, while that of sweaters ranges between ₹200 and ₹1,000.
The jackets made in New Delhi cost a maximum of ₹2,000 starting from a minimum of ₹500.
