The Floating Stores In God’s Own Country!

Pulse

oi-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 14:48

The God's own country is quite famous for the scenic backwaters and clean water bodies. Now, a novel initiative has started in the heart of the backwaters, which is none other than Kuttanad. The programme in the form of a floating retail store is set to ease the woes of almost a million people living in the vicinity of backwaters of Kuttanad region in Kerala.

Consumerfed, the Kerala State Co-operative Consumers Federation Ltd, an apex body of consumer cooperatives in the state has started the programme called 'Triveni.' Triveni will have the small shopping items that the locals require. In that way, the programme comes as a blessing to the locals, who hitherto had to visit the nearest town to shop for the smallest of their needs.

In the many places of Kuttanad, there are not many road accesses for millions of people. They have to go to town and spend a lot of money for many facilities. Due to implementation of the floating 'Triveni', it will go to their doorstep and deliver good quality products at a reasonable price.

'Triveni' operates from eight in the morning till six in the evening, catering to numerous people, who are happy as the store will save them time and money for the shopping errands to the nearest towns. It will really be helpful for the general public like us living in far areas. We will be also getting good quality with better or cheaper prices. The store equipped with the Internet and powered by solar energy, will touch and anchor at almost 50 locations in the backwaters everyday.

Considering certain unique aspects related to 'Triveni', the Consumerfed has approached the Guinness Book of World Records to endorse these facts in the next edition. Though small boats selling fruits and vegetables in the 'floating markets' are a common sight in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Venezuela, 'Triveni' seems to be the only full fledged retail store, the first of its kind.