For many families in Thiruvananthapuram who earn a living by selling papads, a month ago 100 papads meant a profit of at least Rs. 20. But with a 40 per cent increase in the price of Urad dal in less than a month, their profits have tanked. Most of these small scale businessmen, based out of their homes, don't want to increase the price of their papads for they may lose customers. They are instead pinning their hopes on raids in different states on hoarders which they hope would bring dal prices down.
