Hoping for some relief by end of this week: Traders

Uddhav Thackeray. Pic/Ashish Raje

Days after food deliveries in the city were restricted to between 7 am and 8 pm, the BMC on Wednesday said they will be allowed 24/7. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray assured the agitated traders that their grievances will be discussed with the Cabinet. This has given a ray of hope to the traders, who demand that businesses be allowed on the weekdays.

Thackeray held an online meeting with representatives of several trading and retailers associations on Wednesday. They want the state government to allow non-essential services to stay open from Monday to Friday, otherwise their business would take a massive hit. They are willing to remain shut during the weekends.

Traders said the total lockdown would not only affect their revenue but also around 13 lakh employees across Mumbai, and about 35 lakh in the state. In the lockdown, their business would be taken over by the online players, they said, adding that then they will have to look for sources to sell their products in the neighbouring states. They also pointed out that no shop is ever overcrowded as not many people want to buy non-essential products regularly.

A closed clothing store at Dadar on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje

"If I accept your suggestions, then you have to consider your workforce as your family; you have you to get them tested and ensure their safety during daily commute," Thackeray told the representatives.

Young getting infected

The CM said he didn't want to shut everything down but the situation warranted strict measures. "I've been cautioning people against carelessness. We have accelerated vaccination, but we don't have enough doses now. My demand for vaccination for all aged above 25 years was rejected. Youngsters are increasingly getting infected because they go out for work."

The workforce in commercial establishments will further spread the virus during travel, he said. "Mumbai was hit first last year and this year, too, because we have a lot of movement of incoming and outgoing people from other states and countries. The very purpose of restrictions is to control crowding, not shutting your businesses," he added.

The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) also approached Mumbai city Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh on Wednesday afternoon. FRTWA President Viren Shah said, "Shaikh was positive and assured that he will discuss our worries and get back to us. He was of the opinion that some standalone shops may be started but the decision will be of the CM. "During our discussion with the CM, he assured us that he will discuss it with his cabinet and get back to us. We are hoping for some positive relief by the end of this week," Shah added.

CAs, CSs can travel to work

Meanwhile, Thackeray has asked the administration to prepare a standard operating procedure to allow chartered accountants (CA) and company secretaries (CS) to work from their offices on both weekdays and weekends.

"The year ending work, tax returns filing and many other company-related work needs to be completed. Please ensure that such work is done in a COVID-19 appropriate manner," Thackeray told a meeting of CAs and CSs on Wednesday.