Snehal Upadhyay-
An apex body of traders in the State, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES), based out of Kozhikode, moved the Kerala High Court to get its order to the State to relax the restrictions imposed on the opening of shops.
The traders said that opening shops on alternate days attract a crowd, while now, in the pursuance of COVID-19, opening shops daily would not create a crowd as people could come to shops at their favorable and convenient time.
Further, they prayed to give directions to open shops regularly rather than every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in a week.
The Indian Medical Association had recently addressed a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling the lockdown restrictions imposed on the State ‘unscientific’ and ‘ineffective’. This came after the State continued to witness a horrifying surge in Covid-19 cases.
The petition has also disclosed the financial status of the merchants and shopkeepers, which was distressing.
They revealed that by now, 11 of their traders have committed suicide due to the financial burden following the imposition of these restrictions.
KVVES further submitted a report, which showed analysis with the neighboring States, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, that their shops were not closed even when the pandemic was at its peak.
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