48 traders' bodies refuse shutdown

Rajkot: Under severe Covid-19 grip, Saurashtra’s commercial capital is inching towards a self-imposed lockdown by the business community, but not all traders are willing to shut shops saying they have already bore the severe brunt of the prolonged lockdown clamped in March.
In a virtual meeting organized by Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), majority of the traders association refused to close down their establishment, but the famed gold market and Danapith market have already closed considering the spike in infections.
Representatives of 48 traders associations including cloth market, Kansara Bazar, Sangarva Chowk, Para Bazaar, Rajkot market yard that come under the jurisdiction of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) were present in the meeting.
RCCI president VP Vaishnav said, "Most representatives were of the view that the market should not be closed, so we have decided not to impose self lockdown but continue business by taking all the precautions."
Traders said they can ill afford another lockdown looking at the severe financial distress as there are many who operate from rented shops, have loans to repay and have to pay salaries to the employees. The business is anyway bleak after three months lockdown.
According to rough estimates, there are over 30,000 shops and establishments covered under these 48 associations. ahesh Mehta, president of Lakhajiraj Road Traders Association said, “We have to consider the problems of traders also. However, the traders on Lakhajiraj Road, Dharmendra Road and Gheekanta Road are mulling to operate shops only in the morning.”
The gold market has imposed self lockdown since last Saturday and there are nearly 750 big and small shops that are following a strict lockdown. The decision was taken after the death of 35 persons- traders and workers- in the gold market and over 400 people testing positive in the last three months.
Danapith, the biggest grocery and grain wholesale market of the city, also started a partial lockdown from Monday. Around 200 shops remained open from 8am to 3pm only. Danapith is the source of grocery and grains for the Rajkot and Morbi districts.
The traders in old city areas are also worried because the markets are highly congested and it’s not possible to maintain social distancing due to narrow roads.