The price of dal has gone up by 40 per cent in less than a month.
For many families in Thiruvananthapuram who earn a living by selling papads, a month ago 100 papads meant a profit of at least Rs 20. But with a 40 per cent increase in the price of Urad dal in less than a month, their profits have tanked.
Most of these small scale businessmen, based out of their homes, don't want to increase the price of their papads for they may lose customers. They are instead pinning their hopes on raids in different states on hoarders which they hope would bring dal prices down.
"I bought Urad for Rs 170 a kg. A month ago it was between Rs 100 to 120 per kg. We are not getting any profit. We are just continuing because it is a necessity for many outlets. It's very difficult," says Mallika M, who has seen papads being made at her home since she was a child.
Indira, 58, is also among those affected. She has dropped papads from the list of items she sells for breakfast by the side of a road, as she would have had to charge more.
If she increases the rate of dosas and sambar, she says she risks losing customers who would rather eat chapatis for Rs 4 than a dosa for Rs 5.
"I have to increase the price of dosa to Rs 5, papads to Rs 2.50 but if I increase the prices, all these common people will not come to my shop any more. I will lose customers," she said.
Rishiresh, an auto rickshaw driver, brings his rice and sambhar from home, and buys a papad from Indira's road side stall every day. But today soon after he asked for a papad, he changed his mind.
"What I would get for Rs 1 earlier is now selling for Rs 2," he said.