Coal town traders facing the economic brunt of lockdown have suggested reopening of all shops for a limited time period with strict observance of Covid guidelines.

The suggestions for reopening shops till 2 pm came after chief minister Hemant Soren invited suggestions from citizens about the ways of proceeding towards unlock with focus on livelihood.

Chetan Goenka, president of Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, ``We have earlier also demanded allowing reopening of all kinds of shops and reiterated our demand today to the chief minister to allow opening of all shops up to 2 pm.”

“As we have achieved considerable success in controlling Covid some relaxation on trade front is necessary so that the common traders reeling under the impact of Covid can have some relief,” said Goenka and added that shops opening up to 2 pm should be allowed for 15 days and depending on the situation government can take future course of action.

“The traders are ready to observe the Covid protocols in the strictest sense. We are hopeful that the customers have also become quite sensitive about covid and ready to follow all covid guidelines in the strictest sense,” said Goenka.

A tweet by a coal town trader to Hemant Soren Gautam Dey

Echoing sentiments with Goenka, President of Jharia Chamber of Commerce, Amit Sahu said, “The second wave of Covid came when the traders were yet to recover from the severe jolt received during the first wave, so the impact of second phase of lockdown was more on common people including small traders so it is imperative now to provide some relaxation in order to ensure provision of livelihood for common people.”

“We welcome the chief minister’s move to proceed towards lockdown and at the same time demand no let up in the Covid protocol observance given the severity of pandemic,” said Sahu.

Umesh Heliwal, a garment trader of Karkend Bazar of Dhanabd who is also the president of Vastra Vyavsai Sangh, said,“The administration should ensure strict monitoring of Covid protocols by deputing policemen in every market area but all kinds of shop opening including the opening of garment shops should be allowed,” said Heliwal and added that garment traders faced the brunt of first phase of lockdown the most as they were among the last sectors which was allowed to reopen.

Secretary of Dhanbad Motor Dealers Association, Prem Prakash Gangesaria also tweeted to the chief minister demanding all kinds of shops opening till 2 pm with strict monitoring rules.

“We were demanding the opening of motor parts shops for as long as it was ironic that while the vehicle repairing shops were allowed to open even during lockdown the motor parts shops were not allowed to open causing difficulties for the mechanics to repair the vehicle in absence of crucial parts,” said Gangesaria.