Keonjhar: If you are told that people still swear by barter system even in this age of digitalization and online shopping, you may think it is untrue.
But this ancient practice is still extant in Telkoi area in Keonjhar district, and a smalltime businessman Ramesh Samal is to be thanked for this.
Ramesh is a resident of Chhendipada village in Angul district. This small time businessman comes to areas under Telkoi block in Keonjhar district every day carrying vegetables and grocery items starting from mustard oil to soap to spices in a pick-up van.
He sells these items to people and, instead of cash, accepts paddy. “In rural areas, people seldom have liquid cash with them. These people have paddy but don’t have money to buy daily need articles. So I am coming to them with a solution. They buy their required articles in exchange for paddy,” he said.
When asked why he chooses Telkoi area in Keonjhar district and why not his own district, Ramesh said, “Telkoi area is known for paddy cultivation. Most of the villagers are farmers. They have paddy but don’t have liquid cash to buy something if they require at a given time. So I want to offer them a service at their door step and, this way, I am also earning something to run my family.”
Ramesh is not the only person selling daily need articles in exchange for paddy. There are several others as well. Only difference is Ramesh sells from a mobile van, they go around villages carrying their wares on bicycles or motorcycles.
Local people observe that they are happy with this barter system. We are buying utensils, grocery items and clothes in exchange for paddy. And for this, we don’t have to go to any markets or shops. We are getting everything at our door step.
Even if paddy cultivation is the main livelihood here in Telkoi block, there is no rice mill in the vicinity. This is the reason why they cannot sell their paddy. They say taking their paddy to mills is time consuming and expensive at that. Besides, they will face several other problems.
“Even if we take our paddy to mills, there is no guarantee that we will get money at times when we need it most. So the barter system is more suitable to us,” they observed.
PNN
