Rural Malls


Yesterday night on CNBC I saw a story that ITC has opened a rural mall near Bhopal by the name Sagar Choupal.This is an extension of their e-chaupal initiative.
The concept goes something like this .Farmers will come to ITC godowns to sell their produce and with cash in hand would visit the mall nearby. The mall stores things of daily needs from Soaps/Oil/Grocery/Clothes etc and appeared like a mall in any major city.
From the sound bites of the village folks it appeared that they favored the place as things were available cheaper over there.
ITC probably seems to derivie this concept from the traditional haat system, but whether this will succeed only time will tell. Also needs to be seen what impact it may have on rural economy
Some links related to the same

http://in.rediff.com/money/2004/mar/06itc.htm
http://www.blonnet.com/2004/03/03/stories/2004030301360200.htm