PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 6: The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SCCI ), the largest trade outfit of Kolhan has appealed to the chief minister for scrapping or relax existing curbs on the functioning of markets during the weekend, especially on Sundays, in view of the festive season.
The newly elected president of SCCI, Vijay Anand Moonka said after facing a massive slump in their business owing to the Covid-19 outbreak since March last year, different traders, mainly those dealing in garments, footwear, electronics and the likes, are banking on the current festive season.
Moonka also sent a tweet to chief minister Hemant Soren and disaster management minister Banna Gupta requesting to allow the business to open on Sundays and shop timing till 10 pm due to rush in the market for Durga Puja and several upcoming festivals – Diwali and Chhath.
While the state government has already eased its Covid induced lockdown by allowing almost everything in the last two months, it, however, is continuing with its weekend lockdown under which non-essential trades are still not permitted to run their business from Saturday night (8pm) till Monday morning (6am).
Several other local trade bodies have also demanded scrapping of Sunday lockdown as the Covid situation has become quite normal.