MADURAI: The present Corona lockdown has hit small businesses, small grocery shops and roadside vendors under their belly. Not only their daily earning is lost but also the grocery items etc lying in the shops are getting spoiled.
While big ones like Reliance Fresh stores are open and seeing large queues of customers, the small retail grocery shops are struggling to get permission to open their shops. A classic example is the famous East Masi Street in Madurai which is known for its 100-odd grocery stores, but this grcoeries street is now sealed and closed due to lockdown instructions.
For instance, the Reliance showroom situated at Kamarajar Salai in Madurai had good number of customers waiting in queue on 12th April 2020 while the popular groceries street of Madurai- the East Masi Street- was completely deserted with all shops remaining closed as per orders.
Public support to stop the spread of Coronavirus infection is fully essential, but questions are being raised why small grocery shops are not allowed by the authorities to function at least for a few hours in East Masi Street here for the benefit of common people.
Several appeals and representations were made to the Tamil Nadu Government, Madurai District Collector and police officials seeking permission to open retail grocery shops. The Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association has taken up this issue and is awaiting a positive response. It has assured that social distancing, timings, avoiding of crowds etc will be followed as per guidelines.
The request for permission to small retail grocery shops also is correct because when Reliance Fresh like stores departmental are open, why should East Masi Street be sealed and closed in Madurai?
