1234 Kolkata: The 17-day-long cease-work by junior doctors at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital and the subsequent prohibitory orders on Shyambazar crossing and the area surrounding the hospital have paralyzed the local economy. Many small-time traders have either downed shutters or have been going for an early closure in absence of customers.
From fruit vendors and roadside eateries outside the hospital to medicine shops, diagnostic centres and stationary shops, owners of all businesses in and around the hospital are bearing the brunt of the protests and low turnout of patients.
Jatileswar Biswas of a diagnostic centre opposite the hospital’s gate 1 was found standing outside the lab and even considering tests at a discounted rate. “Even earlier this month, we were the most sought-after diagnostic centre in this area. There used to be at least 25 to 30 patients coming for tests on a daily basis. Now, there are hardly any customers. Between Friday and Sunday, there was not a single patient. Only two came in for tests on Monday,” he said.
At a medicine shop a few blocks away, the employees were relaxing behind the counters, watching videos on their cellphones. “Prior to the protests, all our 15 employees were busy throughout the day, attending to over 500 customers daily on an average. Now, we don’t have any work. There are hardly 50 to 60 customers a day now,” said Mintu Das, the owner of the store.
Locals said multiple hawkers who used to sell fruits, tarpaulin sheets for patients’ relatives and snacks shops have downed their shutters. “I usually buy fruits for my nephew when I visit the hospital at the ward where he is admitted with a broken spinal cord. But for the last few days, the fruit stalls stay closed,” said Asha Debnath, a resident of Bongaon.
A pice hotel nearby the hospital is also going through a rough patch. “Before the tragedy, around 300 to 350 customers used to come to my hotel on any given day, but now, I serve hardly 30 to 40 customers per day,” said hotel owner Sanjib Das. He added that the hotel had eight staffers but he had sent three of them on leave and only five were working at present. “We had faced a similar situation during Covid,” Das added.
Shops at Shyambazar crossing, too, are bearing the impact of the protest. Swapan Kumar Das, who runs a garments store at Shyambazar crossing since 1985, said that footfall at his shop and many others in the area had gone down significantly as the place had become synonymous with protests. Traffic is being diverted around the area, driving away potential customers, he added.
“Puja sales generally pick up after Aug 16 but this time, there has been no such uptick in sales yet. We don’t know till when the protests would continue and when we can get back to usual business,” said Das.