Gujarat retailers struggle with local business restrictions

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 18, 2021

Retailers in Gujarat are struggling to keep their businesses afloat during the state’s ongoing partial lockdown which came into force on April 29, and many are requesting for businesses to be allowed to operate more freely. 

“We are upset due to the constant uncertainty in the government’s policies,” trade body Vadodara Vepar Vikas Association convenor Paresh Parikh told TNN.

“It is affecting our business, as there is no clarity over the lockdown rules. Last month, the authorities announced partial lockdown and then implemented full lockdown for non-essential shops and services.”

Some traders are suggesting that the local government either commit to a full-scale lockdown to swiftly stop the spread or allow businesses to operate fully, ET Bureau reported. Non-essential retail is currently shut as part of Gujarat’s local restrictions. 
 
“Earlier, we had demanded complete lockdown to break the Covid chain,” said Parikh.

“But the state government allowed the markets to remain open till 8pm. When the Covid cases spiked, a partial lockdown was implemented. But the partial lockdown has had no effect on the Covid cases that are still on the rise. Then why should our businesses suffer?”
 
As many businesses are still attempting to recover from the financial repercussions of the first wave of the pandemic, they believe that it is necessary for their survival to be allowed to operate and cover their expenses, despite the high number of cases in the state.

As of Tuesday morning, Gujarat has reported 7.5 lakh total coronavirus cases and 9,121 fatalities although there have been reports that the state is under-reporting deaths, India Today reported.