Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): Vendors and businessmen, who had seen slight recovery in their businesses in the aftermath of the first wave, have received fresh jolt following the announcement of the two-week lockdown from May 5.
“This is probably the worst time for India to witness Covid resurgence. Our economy had faced a severe crisis with negative growth of 23.9% following complete lockdown in 2020. But following the unlock process, we were hoping that the economy will rise to 11-12% growth. But the rapid surge has ruined all hopes of a quick turnaround. And now the lockdown will once again hit the low-income group and migrant labourers,” said Rajib Sekhar Sahoo, a chartered accountant. “But at this point the lockdown seems the only way and we hope it will help to bring down the infection rate, which will eventually pave way for economic growth again,” he added.
Though the government has allowed major sectors like manufacturing and agriculture to operate, other sectors like retail shops, malls, complexes, apparel stores, gymnasiums, salons and spas, entertainment industry, hotels, restaurants and bars, Meena Bazar and trade fairs will remain closed. Besides, the government has also banned weekly haats and markets.
“Home delivery can never be similar to dine-in. We barely started to recover from the losses we made when the second wave struck. We have to pay house rent, employees’ salary and EMIs. This lockdown could be a death knell to many small businesses like us,” said Rajiv Swain, owner of a popular restaurant chain in the city.
Shopping malls and market complexes, which reopened in October and had just started recovering from the losses, is staring at a loss. “The business was only 30 to 40% of pre-Covid level. We are included in the non-essential category and are not allowed to open. I have four salesmen in the shop. How am I supposed to pay them,” rued Prakash Agrawal, an apparel store owner.
(Sources: TOI)
