Book retailers and whole-sellers of Dhanbad are facing uncertainty in sales this year again with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic preventing primary and middle school sections to reopen leading to a drop in demand .

Book traders have not ordered new consignments of books for Class I to VIII and stationery as unsold stock from last year is still lying in their godowns.

Online classes during the pandemic worsened their situation. With job losses and a dip in household income, parents are looking to purchase old and used books in order to save money instead of buying new books.

Uday Pratap Singh, one of senior-most book retailers of Dhanbad and president of book traders union told The Telegraph Online: “One of worst sufferers of the pandemic are the book and stationary traders.”

“This as even after the delayed opening of garment shops they managed to make up for losses due to brisk sell during festivals etc but in our trade as the books were not sold in beginning of the session there was no make up for the loss due to online classes for the entire session,” rued Singh.

Rajesh Kumar Gupta, one of biggest whole-seller of copies at Purana Bazar locality who is general secretary of Pustak Vyavsai Sangh said, “the lockdown came into effect last year immediately after we brought the new stock thus only 25% of stock were sold while around around 25 % more were sold in minor relaxation provided to sell books in April but 50% stock is still lying rotting.”

“This year also as only the results of around a dozen CISCE affiliated schools have been announced so far and the pandemic situation is aggravating so we are very sceptical of launching of classes from nursery to Standard VIII and thus not going to bring more stock and instead keep waiting for utilization or old stock” said Gupta.

He also requested the state government to clarify situation regarding launching of classes from nursery to VIII so that some necessary preparations can be made by the book traders.