Jamshedpur: Small-time traders in the Steel City, who have incurred heavy losses during the 40-day lockdown, have urged the state government to allow them resume their businesses, saying that the city and the whole of East Singhbhum district are in the green category as they are yet to report a single Covid-19 positive case so far.
Prakash Pathak, who owns a shop in Kadma Market, said, “Under the relaxation guidelines of the central government, the state government should give us permission to open our shops. Safety measures such as social distancing, use of masks and sanitation protocols will be followed while running our businesses.”
Similarly, a footwear shop owner — who was reprimanded by police on Sunday morning for allegedly opening his shop without permission — said sitting at home without business is not possible any more for small traders like him.
Echoing their sentiments, the Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said they will submit a memorandum to deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla on Monday. “Traders have become impatient. Every day, our functionaries are receiving several calls from the traders asking us to get permission from the administration to open their shops,” said JCCI functionary Mohanlal Agarwal.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) claimed that the traders stood with the government during the extended lockdown period, but now it has become difficult for them to withstand under another phase of lockdown, which has been extended till May 17. “It is not an issue of the shop owners alone, but also of the staff who work at the shops. Keeping shops closed for 40-50 days is like self-destruction,” said CAIT national secretary Suresh Sonthalia. Sonthalia took to Twitter on Sunday and urged CM Hemant Soren to be considerate towards the traders while framing relaxation guidelines for green zones.
For the past fortnight, several shopkeepers have been reprimanded by the police for running their businesses discretely at shops across different markets in the city.
Prakash Pathak, who owns a shop in Kadma Market, said, “Under the relaxation guidelines of the central government, the state government should give us permission to open our shops. Safety measures such as social distancing, use of masks and sanitation protocols will be followed while running our businesses.”
Similarly, a footwear shop owner — who was reprimanded by police on Sunday morning for allegedly opening his shop without permission — said sitting at home without business is not possible any more for small traders like him.
Echoing their sentiments, the Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said they will submit a memorandum to deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla on Monday. “Traders have become impatient. Every day, our functionaries are receiving several calls from the traders asking us to get permission from the administration to open their shops,” said JCCI functionary Mohanlal Agarwal.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) claimed that the traders stood with the government during the extended lockdown period, but now it has become difficult for them to withstand under another phase of lockdown, which has been extended till May 17. “It is not an issue of the shop owners alone, but also of the staff who work at the shops. Keeping shops closed for 40-50 days is like self-destruction,” said CAIT national secretary Suresh Sonthalia. Sonthalia took to Twitter on Sunday and urged CM Hemant Soren to be considerate towards the traders while framing relaxation guidelines for green zones.
For the past fortnight, several shopkeepers have been reprimanded by the police for running their businesses discretely at shops across different markets in the city.
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