Issues and Challenges of the Weekly Market in Chhattisgarh: A Special Reference to Nagri block of Dhamtari District

 

Ashok Kumar Patel¹, Vidyasagar Singh²

¹Research Scholar, BCS Govt. PG College, Dhamtari (C.G.)

²Research Scholar, SOS in Economics, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C.G.)

 

ABSTRACT:

Weekly market is not only place for available goods to the villagers but also providing sell opportunity for locale produce and minor forest product (MFP) in rural area. People who lives in rural area not possible to go to town or city for marketing (Shopping) for basic requirement likes-daily needs etc. In Study area, Major portion of the population depends on agriculture and minor forest products. Nearest surrounding all villagers visit to the weekly market to purchase. They sell those surplus produce in near weekly market. Weekly markets important role play in rural areas providing employment and income generation process. In this paper has focused on infrastructure of the weekly market places.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Chhattisgarh state is a new state of India. The state was formed on 1^st November 2000. Presently the state comprises 27 districts. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Chhattisgarh is RS 3.63 lakh crore (US $51 billion). Out of total population of Chhattisgarh state around 76.76 percent live in the village of rural area. In rural area permanent market facilities is not available so weekly markets play importance role for available basic needs there. Weekly market is very historic concept of trade and commerce, in ancient time also concept of weekly market was there and people used to buy and sell and exchange. Weekly market is called also Haat. Haats are the oldest marketing channel of Chhattisgarh. They continue to play a vital role in the rural economy these markets provides people an opportunity not only to purchase consumer goods, but also to sell surplus agricultural and allied products.

 

Each weekly market caters to the need of a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 50 villages, drawing around 4000 persons who come to buy and sell a range of daily necessities and services. market are held on weekly bases. Sunday markets are the most popular, while middle of the week markets are the most infrequent. Sellers sell in one weekly markets on one day and move to another on the next day. In weekly market not only sell loose commodities, a significant amount of packaged goods are also sold.

 

REVIEW LITERATURE:

1    Saxena, H. M. (1988)¹ has explained in his book “Rural Markets and Development” about the weekly market that, the development of fairs(mela) and weekly markets (haat, bazaar) were landmark in the field of rural marketing, Both these rural trading institutions, wherever developed are still continue to serve the needs of rural people .

2    Aggarwal, P. K. (2007)² Point out in his book “Tribal development planning in India” tribal’s, exploited by government agencies and contractors in marketing of non timber forest product.

3    Hasnain, N. (2007)³ his book “Tribal India” Mention that Tribals area regular market are still a rarity among them. In most of the cases people assemble in an assigned place and on an appointed time and exchange their commodities wish each other. The market held in tribal regions usually trade in commodities of local use like vegetables, cereals, meat, spices, salt, utensils, agricultural tools and implements clothing, cosmetics etc.

 

OBJECTIVES OF STUDIES:

1.     To study the profile of weekly market in Dhamtari district.

2.     To examine the issues and challenges of weekly market in Dhamtari district.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Schedule was structured to data collection of primary information as possible and hence, the most common of research, descriptive research was used. Secondary data collected from various reports of published by the government.

 

Selection of Study Area and Sample:

Present study is based on Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state. Dhamtari district is divided into four block namely – Nagri, Dhamtari, Kurud and Margarlod. For the purpose of present study, we have selected only to the Nagri block of Dhamtari. In the Nagri block have 249 villages under the 98 Grampanchayats. There are 41 weekly market in study area. We have to selected 12 weekly market (Tribal Rural backward area) places. We have visited to the sampled weekly market on the market day and interviewed the sellers and buyers with the help of questionnaires and collected important information from the marketing point of view.

 

Weekly markets in Chhattisgarh:

In Chhattisgarh state inhabited 20126 villages and their 2.55 crore population out of population 76.76 percent population living in rural areas. Only 23.24 percent population lives in urban area. Urban area people fulfill all basic requirement by big market like- Big shops, Shopping malls, Big Bazaar and Super markets etc, but rural population not able to purchases the commodity from urban market, mean while they are also want to purchases the all commodity of urban shop. In Chhattisgarh this types of problem solve by weekly markets, mainly in rural area stabilized a market in a week in the village. Nearest surrounding all villagers visit to the weekly market purchase to all type daily needs as like- vegetables, fruits, cloths and foods etc. below the table show weekly markets status of Chhattisgarh states.

 

Table -1: District wise weekly markets in Chhattisgarh

Weekly Markets (hats)
District	No of village	No of weekly market
BASTAR	1150	202
BIJAPUR	694	68
BILASPUR	1599	441
DAKSHINBASTARDANTEWADA	608	56
DHAMTARI	649	196
DURG	1773	702
JANJGIRCHAMPA	892	305
JASPUR	1055	175
KABEERDHAM	1006	107
KORBA	719	127
KORIA	636	106
MAHASAMUND	1145	134
NARAYANPUR	412	17
RAIGARH	1166	131
RAIPUR	2149	716
RAJNANDGAON	1653	323
SARGUJA	1750	354
UTTARBASTARKANKER	1070	158
TOTAL	20126	4318

Source: http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB.html⁴

 

Weekly market is not only place for available goods to the villagers but also providing sell opportunity for locale agriculture produce.

 

Weekly markets in Nagri block of Dhamtari:

Dhamtari district have 649 villages and 196 weekly market places. Nagri is a block of Dhamtari district, Below the table show the detail of weekly market and distance from nearest town/ city of Nagri.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Issues and Challenges of the weekly markets:

Distance:

In the rural area to be big distance between village and market that why people can not go to nearest market place so he prefer to weekly market for purchase necessary goods. In study area 17.1 percent weekly village market to nearest statutory Town distance is 1-10 km, 26.8 percent village distance is 10-20 km and 56.1 percent village distance is mare then 20 km. Bar charts shows the details.

 

 

Table -2: Weekly market lists of Nagri block of Dhamtari district

Sl	Sub District Name	Village Name	Sub District Head Quarter (Distance in km)	District Head Quarter (Distance in km)	Nearest Statutory Town (Name)	Nearest Statutory Town (Distance in km)
1	Nagri	Dargahan	65	25	DHAMTARI	25
2	Nagri	Saloni	65	25	DHAMTARI	25
3	Nagri	Kurridih	58	20	DHAMTARI	20
4	Nagri	Siyadehi	53	11	DHAMTARI	11
5	Nagri	Makardona	51	15	DHAMTARI	15
6	Nagri	Jhuratarai	66	30	DHAMTARI	30
7	Nagri	Keregaon	35	26	DHAMTARI	26
8	Nagri	Bhothapara	54	30	DHAMTARI	30
9	Nagri	Amlipara	58	32	DHAMTARI	32
10	Nagri	Siyarinala	45	36	DHAMTARI	36
11	Nagri	Gattasilli	22	45	NAGRI	22
12	Nagri	Sankra	20	50	NAGRI	20
13	Nagri	Ghotgaon	15	50	NAGRI	15
14	Nagri	Dongardula	8	56	NAGRI	8
15	Nagri	Amali	4	68	NAGRI	4
16	Nagri	Farsiya	8	73	NAGRI	8
17	Nagri	Sankra	7	72	NAGRI	7
18	Nagri	Umergaon	12	76	NAGRI	12
19	Nagri	Podagaon	18	82	NAGRI	18
20	Nagri	Sihawa	8	75	NAGRI	8
21	Nagri	Padampur	13	77	NAGRI	13
22	Nagri	Ghatula	13	78	NAGRI	13
23	Nagri	Gadhdongari Mal	19	85	NAGRI	19
24	Nagri	Kaspur Ryt	25	91	NAGRI	25
25	Nagri	Semra	11	62	NAGRI	11
26	Nagri	Belargaon	22	88	NAGRI	22
27	Nagri	Bhursidongri	27	87	NAGRI	27
28	Nagri	Aamgaon	28	88	NAGRI	28
29	Nagri	Ghurawad	32	91	NAGRI	32
30	Nagri	Borai	42	110	NAGRI	42
31	Nagri	Ghutkel	44	112	NAGRI	44
32	Nagri	Tumdibahar	30	84	NAGRI	30
33	Nagri	Belarbahra	25	100	NAGRI	25
34	Nagri	Mechka	22	87	NAGRI	22
35	Nagri	Kaslor	27	92	NAGRI	27
36	Nagri	Barpadar	30	95	NAGRI	30
37	Nagri	Dugli	18	50	NAGRI	18
38	Nagri	Khallari	34	98	NAGRI	34
39	Nagri	Tangapani	16	65	NAGRI	16
40	Nagri	Banspani	22	60	NAGRI	22
41	Nagri	Risgaon	44	108	NAGRI	44

SOURCE: http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB.html

 

Chart – 1

 

Table -3: No of sellers in the weekly markets

Sl no	Weekly markets	Male	Female	Total
1	NAGRI	232	93	325
2	BELARGAON	402	230	632
3	DUGLI	220	68	288
4	KEREGAON	143	36	179
5	MECHKA	77	8	85
6	UMERGAON	165	44	209
7	GATTASILLI	328	104	432
8	SEMRA	74	39	113
9	SANKARA	170	97	267
10	BORAI	278	112	390
11	PODAGAON	38	14	52
12	FARSIYA	102	43	145
	Total	2229 (71.51 %)	888 (28.48%)	3117 (100%)

Source: Field work

Gender Empowerment:

In weekly market as a seller female proportion participation is very low. Table - 3. Shows that 71.51 per cent of the seller are male and only 28.48 per cent of the seller are female.

 

15. NO OF SELLERS ACCORDING TO THE BUSINESS:

In weekly market sellers (in percent) participation according their business is respectively vegetables (50.75), fruits (1.28), shoe (2.11), grocery food items (4.68), utensils and plastic items (2.47), seeds (1.15),brooms(0.89), household food grain and spices (6.22), forest products (0.70), clothing and textile items (5.32), food and beverage (6.48), gold and silver(1.89), bangles (6.32), egg(0.44), chicken/mutton/fish (4.71), electronic item and tools(2.18), earthenware (0.86), agriculture tools (1.02), books and copy (0.19), cycle tools(0.16), salon (0.09). Its show that in the rural tribal area of the weekly market vegetable demand and supply is very high.

 

Chart-2: Sellers according to the business

Source: Field work

 

Sanitation Facilities at Working place:

In the market place pure drinking water facilities like hand pump and other availabilities only 33.3 percent markes, table -4 shows the drinking water facilities availabilities in the weekly markets.

 

Table – 4: Drinking water in weekly market

	Frequency	Percent
Yes	4	33.3
No	8	66.7
Total	12	100.0

Source: Field work

 

In the weekly markets only 8.3 percent availability of toilet facilities market, it is very poor condition and buyers and seller both face the problem in the market day of unable facilities. Chart -3 shows the toilet facilities in the market area.

 

Chart -3: Toilet facilities

 

Source: Field work

Lights facilities:

No electricity connection in the weekly markets, seller arrange own light facilities.

 

Shade facilities:

Only 33.3 percent shade facility available In the weekly market, sellers face challenge in the rainy and summer season. Table -5 show the detail

 

Table-5: Shade facilities in the weekly markets

	Frequency	Percent
Yes	4	33.3
No	8	66.7
Total	12	100.0

Source: Field work

 

Concrete road facilities

Concrete road availabilities in the weekly market is only 33.3 percent, table -7 shows the detail below

 

Chart -4: Concrete road facilities in the weekly markets

 

Source: Field work

 

Parking facilities and space:

Buyers and sellers come with there vehicles at the market place. In the weekly markets parking and space is good role play and attract to him also. Below the table show the Parking facilities availabilities in the market place

 

Table -6: Parking facilities and space in the weekly markets

	Frequency of	Percent
Yes	6	50.0
No	6	50.0
Total	12	100.0

Source: Field work

 

CONCLUSION:

Weekly markets important role play in rural areas providing employment and income generation. This study examines the issues and challenges faced by the weekly market sellers in their activity. The study found that they do not have adequate infrastructure facilities at their working place. The government should supports to encourage their activity. In Chhattisgarh more then 70 percent population lives in rural area and state per capita income is increasing so demand in rural area continue increasing day by day. Weekly market is providing good opportunities for rural area.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Saxena, H. M. (1998). Rural Markets and Development. Jaipur, India: Prem Rawat, Rawat Publications.

2.      Aggarwal, P. K. (2007). Tribal development planning in India. New Delhi, India: Mahaveer and Sons.

3.      Hasnain, N. (2007). Tribal India. Lucknow:, India: New Royal Book Co.

4.      http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB.html

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 11.04.2019         Modified on 21.04.2019

Accepted on 09.05.2019      ©AandV Publications All right reserved