‘Footwear shop owners badly hit’

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Merchants’ Association has sought the intervention of the state government regarding the plight of footwear shop owners. A press note issued by S S Manoj, secretary, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi said that the stock purchased by the merchants anticipating festival sale are getting destroyed in the shops.
Around 25,000 shops have been remaining shut in the state in the past few weeks. During the previous year’s lock down, the shop keepers had reported loss worth around Rs 150 crore. They had obtained loans by pledging properties to procure the stock which is now being piled up in shops. Many items in the stock require regular care and owing to seasonal changes, the entire stock would be ruined.
The association has sought the intervention of the state government in facilitating an atmosphere in which footwear shops could function in compliance with Covid-19 protocol.