This Rakshabandhan, think local! The thing is, amidst the spread of COVID – 19, even if you did not contract the virus, you will still be affected by it in some ways or the other. We may have obeyed the lockdown, followed the social distancing rule still the virus manages to reach us in many ways. This time, irrespective of what the data says about the affected ones, the lockdown due to the spread has disturbed the local economy. You know we all are interrelated and interdependent on each other and the current situation is the proof of it.
We are stuck at our places (which initially was fun though), working from home, cant meet friends, salaries being deducted and what not. You might have not paid attention to it, but along with the other repercussions, the pandemic has troubled the national as well as the global economy. The industries are facing heavy losses, some businesses have called it to quit. But you know even if controlling the stock market might be out of your control, there is something you can do to stop the economy from falling further.
I would just say that if you have the means, whenever you shop, spend money on the local business because if we don’t pay attention now, the impacts may have long term effects. Nothing can defeat us until we stand together. Now is the perfect time to show that we all hold the power to boost the economy, and show how much you care for your country. Shouldn’t I be saving money in such times? You may ask. Yes, of course, you should always save money, but what I’m trying to convey is that whenever you buy something, stick to the local brands and business. The best time we can pour the money back into the market is at festivals. Since India is a land of so many festivals, and at each festival, we usually buy stuff that we need for the celebration. So, the upcoming festival in India is Raksha bandhan. We know that it is an important festival of our’s and even if we cut unnecessary expenditure this time, we still are going to buy something as important as online rakhi delivery, right? So, here are some ways by which we can help to restore our economy.
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Shift to order online
Yes, shops are closed and so is your favourite book store. But don’t be disheartened, try your luck by shifting to online ordering. And by online rakhi ordering, I never said just jump on to amazon. Before you do that, check if you can get it from the local store. Like if your favourite bakery still has its shutter down and you wished to get your favourite cupcakes for the rakhi day, check if the store offers online shopping. Many local business owners now look up to the internet and keep their business afloat via online shopping.
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Check the birthplace of the product
Whenever you go out shopping (even your essentials), before you add the item to the cart, checkout the information “made in India”. If you are buying rakhis, make sure that they are threaded in the Indian houses, or if you want to send rakhi to Pune for your siblings, make sure your hand reaches out for products that are homegrown.
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Be vocal about your support
Never underestimate the power of positive endorsement. If you love trying a product from a local brand and love it, share it with your friends and family. You can even take out five minutes and write a thoughtful review on your social media account. This can push other people as well to consider local brands before running for the international ones.
So, these are some ways by which you can show your support to the local economy.
