Textile Traders Of Mumbai’s Iconic Swadeshi Market Seek Tax Relief, Redevelopment From Next Govt

Last Updated:November 14, 2024, 08:50 IST

Housed in a decades-old building, the heritage structure with several shops was first established in the early 1900s. However, closer to India’s freedom struggle, the market got its ‘Swadeshi’ name due to the denouncing of foreign goods

Once the hub of the revolutionary Swadeshi movement, the structural health of the market is a cause of concern. (Facebook)

The iconic Swadeshi Market in Mumbai’s Kalbadevi is looking forward to the Maharashtra elections, with textile traders — a crucial vote bank for all parties — ready with their list of demands for the winning side.

Housed in a decades-old building, the heritage structure with several shops was first established in the early 1900s. However, closer to India’s freedom struggle, the market got its ‘Swadeshi’ name due to the denouncing of foreign goods.

“This market was set up in the early 1900s. However, it got its name because of the participation of the traders in the Swadeshi movement, where we set ablaze foreign materials and foreign products. The market has about 700 shops, with close to 400 shops on the ground floor itself," Gitesh Unsdkar told CNN-News18 as we travelled to the historic market — that provides employment to over two lakh people — to gauge the mood of the traders.

With consumers increasingly preferring online shopping through e-commerce sites, traders are a worried lot. They admit that it is impacting the smaller businesses which the government should be concerned about.

Textile trader Sumit Mehra said: “It is very difficult for us to compete with the online businesses because they come with deep pockets. We have only limited resources because of which we are gradually losing our business."

Another trader, Samir Gandhi, also listed steps the government needs to take to protect their interests. “People in this market have had their shops for years together. We are hopeful that some tax relief will be given to us, and fair trade practices will allow us to compete with the online markets. This is our only request," Gandhi said, citing the need for liberalisation of taxes.

Once the hub of the revolutionary Swadeshi movement, the structural health of the market is also a cause of concern. While traders are in favour of redevelopment and modernisation, they are wary of the vested interests of builders and some corrupt members of their own committee.

Shreyansh Shah, a third-generation trader, elaborates: “We are certainly in favour of redevelopment because our market is very old, and that is the need of the hour. But this project must go into the right hands. Currently, we have doubts over the working of the management of the market, and we are hoping that the government will help us in the concerns we have raised. All we ask for is a transparent system."

One of the biggest trades for Mumbai alongside Surat and Ahmedabad in Gujarat has been the trade in materials, especially cotton fabric. This explains why a lot is playing on the minds of the trader community as they prepare to watch the next government take shape later this month.

The state of Maharashtra votes in a single phase on November 20 for a 288-member assembly. The poll results will be out on November 23.

News elections Textile Traders Of Mumbai’s Iconic Swadeshi Market Seek Tax Relief, Redevelopment From Next Govt