‘Chefs have become watchmen, waiters working as masons’

Continuing with time restrictions has fuelled resentment across the spectrum within the hotel industry Restaurant and hotel owners and employees have been protesting for leeway which means an extension beyond the lsquocanbeopenonlytill4 pmrsquo timing curbs that have been imposed on them through lockdown Dining out is also reserved for weekends but that avenue too remains closed for restaurateurs with the government not granting relief to the industryThis simmering anger erupted after shops got some relief from the state government recently The retail establishments got an extension in timing but for restaurants and hotels it was status quo and status woeldquoWe do not grudge against anybody getting relief but we have to ask why we are being constantly overlookedrdquo asked hospitality representatives On Wednesday morning the Vasai Taluka Hotel Association VTHA with the support of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India HRAWI held a silent protest against the governmentrsquos decision on continued restrictions on restaurant timings in the districtAlso read We too want extended hours say hoteliersThe protestAt least 150 people mdash owners employees and others allied to the industry mdash gathered to showcase desperation and helplessness They met at the Tungar Phata in Vasai and then made their way to the Palghar district collectorrsquos office to submit a representation The written plea signed by Nagraj Shetty general secretary of the VTHA has lsquorevival of hotels and restaurants in the VasaiVirar regionrsquo as the subject lineAn excerpt reads ldquoThe recent order of the Palghar collector restricting dinein services in restaurants and bars to 4 pm from Monday to Friday and no dinein on weekends had squashed industry hopes for revivalrdquoThe written communication cites that the prime business period for dinein establishments is 8 pm to 12 am and weekends and with this being shut it is becoming impossible to surviveShetty said ldquoI do not know why we are at the receiving end of this stepfatherly treatment by the government We have hardly made any money in the past 17 months Several establishments here can only survive through dinein we cannot even cover basic expenses through takeaway servicesrdquo He said that if the government insists on time restrictions then a lsquo6 pm to 12 am allowed to openrsquo window is more logical for fine dine establishmentsDinner pleasePritam Singh joint secretary of the Vasai Association added ldquoWe have at least 280 restaurants under this umbrella Many employees are now struggling to pay bills including something as vital as their childrenrsquos school fees as there has been no relief It is the governmentrsquos job to ensure that people receive both vaccine doses They are slipping and failing on this count but we are subjected to restrictions We are the industry that employs the maximum number of people but we are paying such a heavy price with no relaxations Gyms have also been allowed to open for extended hours even though they are at high risk Compare this to a restaurant where the staff is fully masked and tables are sanitised after every patron leavesrdquoSherry Bhatia president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India HRAWI said that it is impossible to make money through takeaways only ldquoAt our association meetings we hear of talented chefs working as watchmen outofwork waiters have become masons it is immensely tragic but people have to make a living somehowrdquoBhatia said delivery service does not cut it ldquothere are so many people who want to dine out and they do so usually for dinner It is the office crowd which is small that will eat out in the mornings We have shown time and again that we follow all guidelines have minimum risk but we get maximum punishmentrdquoRepresentatives claimed that if all pleas resulted in nothing bigger agitations would be planned when people already driven to the edge will descend on the roadsThe industry leaders ended as they stated ldquoDomestic flights are operating Passengers are sitting in aircraft with no social distancing in airconditioned spaces Restrictions are lifted to allow this so why is it that restaurants are not allowed more hoursrdquo They finished with anger and anguish in that question using the aircraft example to highlight lsquoplanersquo discrimination