Sharad, a daily wager, has a well-deserved snooze under one of the shelters constructed for the village haat at Shirpur in Maharashtra’s Dhule district. Consisting of several cemented platforms and corrugated and thatched roofs, these are meant to help micro-entrepreneurs and self-help groups sell their produce at the weekly market, which caters to several surrounding villages. The shelters have become popular as hubs that promote local goods and produce, and they keep out the rain and sun on market days. During the rest of the week, Sharad and others like him use them for a nap. Photo: Kamal Narang