Time and again we hear lines like the current economic hardship is only temporary. We read statements from politicians telling people all is well. On the other hand, we read reports like the one in this paper, which detailed how stall-owners who have taken loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs1.6 lakh have been left in the lurch and have no alternative site to set up stalls.

The popular three-decade-old Samartha Bajar Peth, a household business fair that is held a month ahead of Diwali at Antonio D'Silva School's ground in Dadar West was asked to wind up abruptly as the State Election Commission has decided to use the premises during elections. It began on August 23 and was to continue till October 30, with stall-owners focusing on the last two weeks before Diwali.