Trinath & Sarthak Kanjilall
Mayabunder, September 02: While Andaman along with the country, stepped into the Unlock 4.O phase with relaxation given in almost all sectors, the Businessmen community in these Islands who are already under tremendous problems due to the COVID situation is aghast and pained at imposing the timing restriction by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration on the functioning of shops and markets. As per the SOP issued by the Administration, the shops and markets are to operate from 8.30 AM to 6.30 PM.
As per the farmers, the current order of opening and shutting shops and other business establishments from 08:30 AM to 06:30 PM has brought in enormous difficulties for them as they are unable to sell theirs produces and other catches in this time frame.
Meanwhile, raising serious concern over the timing fixed for shops, the petty shop owners, especially who runs the tea shops said that if they open the shop at 08:30 AM, it takes at least 30 minutes to prepare the tea and according to them, no one comes at 09:00 AM to have tea or coffee.
The farmers and the petty shop owners in the North and Middle Andaman said that the timing fixed during the unlock 03, was more or less acceptable to them, as these are the time when the consumers come to the market for purchases.
The Adhyaksh of North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. Dipankar Mistry has also written a letter to the District Commissioner, Mayabunder and stated that most of the people come to buy the vegetables and fishes in the early morning hours and the timing fixed in the unlock 04 will bring difficulties for farmers as no customers will come to buy the products, which in turn will cause huge loss to farmers and petty businessmen.
Meanwhile, some businessmen in the South Andaman area have also expressed concerns over this issue.
“It is felt by a major portion of the businessman that the closure time of 6.30 PM needs to be further extended till 8.30 PM as this period forms to be the crucial business time for almost all commercial establishments. On behalf of the business community, I, therefore request Administration to extend the closure time and all the businesses to operate till 8.30 PM instead of 6.30 PM,” Mr. Abdul Siddique, a Social Worker and Businessman of Port Blair city told Andaman Sheekha today.
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