Appeal for Financial Relief for Traders in Delhi
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has addressed a letter to Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, highlighting the serious challenges faced by traders in the city due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The letter underscores the adverse impact of prolonged shop and market closures, lasting over 50 days, on the financial stability of Delhi's trading community.
Overview of the Situation
The letter expressed urgent concerns regarding two main issues:
- Financial Crisis: With the reopening of markets, traders are grappling with severe financial difficulties which have been exacerbated by excessively high electricity bills issued during the lockdown period. These bills were sent to commercial and industrial establishments that were closed, compounding the financial strain on traders.
- Request for Relief: The CAIT is advocating for an immediate financial relief package targeted at traders in Delhi. Additionally, it calls for the withdrawal of inflated electricity bills and associated minimum charges charged for the lockdown duration.
Challenges Faced by Traders
The letter elaborated on the struggles traders have encountered, including:
- Continuous operational challenges due to lockdown measures, leading to a significant loss of income.
- Previous support from traders to their employees during the 2020 lockdown, including covering salaries and providing assistance amidst financial hardships.
- Exhaustion of savings and deposits due to ongoing overhead and establishment costs, with no significant aid from either the Central or State Governments.
Despite these obstacles, traders managed to recover approximately 60 to 70% of their business by March 2021. However, the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 rapidly led to another lockdown, severely impacting their ability to maintain operations.
Urgent Requests for Consideration
The following requests were emphasized in the letter:
- A financial relief package to support traders, which would assist in covering salaries for around 40 lakh employees, along with operational expenses.
- Direction for electricity providers to retract lockdown-generated bills and eliminate minimum charges applicable during this period.
Conclusion
The letter concludes with a call for the Delhi Government to acknowledge its responsibility towards the trading community. It urges the government to take immediate action in providing financial relief and sets an example for other states to follow.