Now,NGO runs ‘bhaji on wheels’ to take on price rise

The Aundh unit of BJP in collaboration with city-based Jagruti Pratishthan has started Bhaji on Wheels,a project that offers vegetables at half the prices at local markets in Aundh,Pashan,Baner and surrounding area. Run in a tempo carrier,the pilot project,currently operational in Aundh,will soon be run throughout the city. “Before starting the initiative,we conducted a survey in the area and found out that the prices of vegetables and even fruits are higher in these localities. While transportation,profit margins of the vendors play a major role in increasing the prices above the open market or market yard rates,they do not influence so much that the rates would be double the open market rates. Common buyers cannot go to market yard every day. The vegetable vendors who buy vegetables and fruits in bulk from open market,take advantage of this fact and increase their profit margins by almost doubling the prices. And this is what inflation is and that is what we want to challenge,” said Ashutosh Deshpande,founder,Jagruti Pratishthan.

Buying the vegetables from the open market,the Bhaji on Wheels tempo stands at the Aundh market,next to Gaikwad petrol pump,from 8 am to 8 pm. The difference is clearly visible as the prices of the vegetables and fruits available on the vehicle are priced at half the rates at which they are sold by vendors. For instance,if carrots is available at Rs 40 per kg in the local market the tempo has it for Rs 20. Apples costRs 60 per kg as against Rs 100- 120 in the local market. “Low rates do not mean low quality. We have just cut the profit limits which are the major cause of making commodities costlier than their actual prices. We have been operating on a no- profit- no- loss basis. After buying the vegetables in bulk from Gultekdi market yard,we add to it the labour price and the transport expenses and sell it after adding four- five rupees to them to manage our operational expenses. Our functioning for over a month shows that under any circumstances,the cost of these commodities is not doubled,” added Deshpande. While the residents have been queuing at the vehicle for buying fresh stock,the initiative,has been facing criticism from the local vendors who have been incurring losses. “We are clear that we are working for the society and not for vendors whose population is minimal compared to the buyers,” said Deshpande. Girish Bapat,MLA and city unit chief of the party said,“We will soon extend the projectacross the city.”