Confederation of All India Traders
“Vyapar Shawan”
925/1, Naiwala, Karol Bagh New Delhi-110005.
Phone: +91-11-45032664, Telefax +91-11-45032665
E-mail: teamcait@gmail.com Website : www.cait.in
Ref. No.: 3226/1/50
31st May, 2021
Shri Arvind Kejriwal
Hon’ble Chief Minister
Government of NCI’ of Delhi
Delhi
Dear Shri Kejriwal Ji,
Sub- Appeal for review unlocking process in Delhi – Current unlock is meaningless
We truly acknowledge and appreciate efforts of Delhi Government in handling the unprecedented second wave of Covid in Delhi which has left an indelible impression in the hearts and mind of the citizens of Delhi and also appreciate the process of unlocking Delhi initiated by you which we feel is proving to be futile exercise. Construction activities, Factories and shops on the other side are complementing each other and that is why, the unlock can be termed as half baked.
The traders across Delhi are highly disappointed because they were expecting that shops will open from today in a phased manner to revive the business activities and was logical too because when the lock-down was announced in Delhi on 19 April, the infection rate was 26 .12% and the number of infected people was 23686 which has come down around 900 positive cases with a positivity rate of less than 1.5%.
It is to be noted that opening of Construction activities and Factories certainly require various material like cement, building material, sand, iron & steel, shuttering material, builders hardware, tools, sanitarywares and sanitary fittings in case of construction activities while different kind of raw material required by various types of factories, machinery, repairing gadgets, ball bearings, pneumatic, electric, electronic and hand tools, weighing material, products and equipments required for maintaining various government prescribed standards in case of factories. Since the shops are closed, the bigger question is how these items will be procured. Moreover, the goods produced by the factories will be sold or routed to which kind of supply chain, since the shops are closed.
Under the circumstances, we request your goodself to please review the decision in the light of its practical aspects and order opening of markets as may deem fit by you. Even for smaller working hours, the markets are open in a phased manner which will ease the situation. As suggested earlier, the wholesale markets and retail markets in Delhi may be allowed to open in different staggered timings with a night curfew from 10pm to 5am.
If the shops and markets in Delhi remained closed further, several pertinent question will be cropped up like how the salary of the employees will be paid, from where will the interest of banks, monthly installment of houses and vehicles, electricity-water expenses, property tax and shops rent be paid are the bigger questions which are haunting the traders. The business of Delhi has been completely derailed, how will that business be restored when there is an acute financial crunch. In such a situation, if the markets and shops are not opened, then it is affecting not only the traders but also their families, their employees and their families too.
Since it’s a pandemic period, the traders will abide by the orders of the Government and will not confront even at the cost of their miseries. The trade associations of Delhi are most eager and inclined to support the Government in its efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic and therefore if deemed fit, you may invite the trade leaders for a constructive consultation on ways and means of unlocking the shops and markets in Delhi.
We once again appeal to you to review the decision in the light of the ground reality and we are hopeful you will take a sound decision in the best interest of the Delhi traders who have always stood with the Government through thick and thin.
Thank you. With kind regards.
Yours truly
Praveen Khandelwal
National Secretary General
Confederation of All India Traders
