India International Trade Fair’ 17: Less space, low participation, say workers

Large crowds throng the India International Trade Fair every year to bag great deals at the hundreds of pavilions — both desi and foreign — selling everything from jewellery, apparel, artsy items and handicrafts to home essentials, and what not! This year, however, the air is different, hinting a subdued affair.

Due to the ongoing construction of the centre at Pragati Maidan, the space for this year’s fair — starting November 14 — has reduced. There’s a smaller area for stalls, and this seems to have deterred traders’ spirit.

“Participation 50% tak kam ho gaya hai ji (It’s almost down to 50%), says Mohan Chand, a worker, who has been associated with India Trade Promotion Organisation since 1982. “Less participation has thereby reduced our work to almost half,” he adds.

Ratul Vishwas, decoration in-charge of the West Bengal section, tells us, “Every year around 50-60 stalls are put up but due to the space constraint this time there will only be around 10 stalls. The selection committee that includes selfhelp group and medium and small enterprises have chosen only the premium brands well known among Delhiites.”

While around 100-150 workers used to work on the decorations of one pavilion, only 40 are working this time. “The area has been reduced to more than half and it took us 15 odd days to make it ready. Earlier, we’d begin around two months ago,” says Vishwajeet, who has been working on the project for 10 years.

Vankatesh from Chennai section shares a similar story. “I have been coming here for the last seven years. There are around 15 stalls in the Chennai hanger, and we finished the work in just 10 days. Now, only the touch-up is left. It seems like no work at all.”

Let’s see how the visitor footfall gets affected.

PHOTO: SHIVAM SAXENA/HT Workers preparing state pavilions for Trade Fair 2017 at Pragati Maidan

PHOTO: SHIVAM SAXENA/HT A glimpse of the indoor setup before the fair begins on Nov 14