With the present rupee problem small town shopkeepers of Norbugang weekly market, erstwhile known as Changbari, are doing good business. According to the weekly market vendors their business has gone up as people no more go out to bordering towns to buy essential commodities.
According to some of the customers it is a problem for them to manage Rupee and more over the shopkeepers in India charge them 10 percent to 15 percent extra if they pay in Ngultrums.
However, the problem of replenishing their stocks has been a major problem, as most of them have to buy their goods from the border towns. Our reporter, Komal Kharka, said that this has resulted in price escalation as the vendors said they have to pay 10 percent extra when they buy from India.
Aasma Chettri runs a cosmetic and decorative shop in the weekly market in Norbugang. She said she cannot make a demand draft to her wholesalers in India as she buys in small quantity and from different shops in India. Others like Pelden who also drives taxi prefers going directly to Phuentsholing to buy his goods.
The other reason for Norbugang vendors doing good business is that vendors from India have stopped coming to Norbugang weekly market, which has reduced the competition for the local Bhutanese vendors.
Established some forty years ago the Norbugang weekly market has around 20 small shops.
