Selective restrictions cause dissent among city traders

Thiruvananthapuram: The traders at Chalai and Palayam, where only 50% of shops would remain open on a given day, are raising concerns over their areas of livelihood being ‘labelled’ as breeding grounds for infection. Selective restriction imposed in these two markets by authorities, following detection of Covid-positive cases with unidentified sources of infection in the capital, has caused dissent among the merchant community.
“When the decision was first announced we anticipated a crowd on those days when shopping would be allowed. Now, we are dealing with a situation where there is hardly any crowd. Even when the government lifted Sunday lockdown, Chalai remained shut because nobody comes to buy goods here anymore. People have been made to think that markets alone spread infection. We are worried that even if the restrictions are lifted, people won’t come back to Chalai or Palayam,” said Manoj SS, general secretary, Kerala vyapari vyavasaayi ekopana samithi.
The traders said that they would have gladly accepted a complete lockdown but the present move of authorities to target Chalai and Palayam could be detrimental to their livelihood and even the famed market culture of the city.
“We have noticed that many of our regular customers prefer shopping in local areas although they have to pay a higher price. We are being stigmatized. Those people who tested positive have frequented banks and even government offices. We don’t see authorities shutting down those places,” said Manoj.
Chandran, a vegetable vendor at Palayam said that the biggest challenge is regulating stock. “As we sell perishable goods, we have no other way but to sell it off. The stock would keep coming whether shops are open or not. So what are we supposed to do with the stock especially when it is perishable. We are not against containment or restrictions but selective restriction affects us badly,” said Chandran. The merchants said that their request for introducing time slots of item-based sales was also turned down by the authorities.
The corporation authorities are also concerned over an exhausted work force being asked to monitor crowding in shops when it ought to be the responsibility of police.
The health wing has been overworked for months due to their activities related to maintenance of Covid-care homes, monitoring persons under home quarantine and running community kitchens.
Meanwhile, the city corporation has shut down a super market in the city which flouted the alternate-day functioning system being imposed in the city.
On Monday, corporation officials led by mayor K Sreekumar held surprise inspection at Kumarichantha to check that traders and customers adhered to the norms.