The government’s directive to states and union territories not to impose lockdown outside containment zones without approval comes as a silver lining for the retail industry that has been battling local restrictions, according to the Retailers Association of India (RAI), which said retailers are depending a lot on the upcoming festive season for business recovery.
Weekend and partial lockdowns were being implemented at the local levels earlier despite orders from the home ministry to keep retail open on all days, which implied a gap in coordination between the central government and the states, RAI said in a statement.The government's directive to states and union territories not to impose lockdown outside containment zones without approval comes as a silver lining for the retail industry that has been battling local restrictions, according to the Retailers Association of India, which said retailers are depending a lot on the upcoming festive season for business recovery.#
"Livelihood is important and we believe that any shutdowns should be very carefully calibrated to ensure a balance between lives and livelihood. A central focus as compared to just local decisions is the need of the hour," RAI chief executive officer Kumar Rajagopalan was quoted as saying by a news agency.
Boost to the retail industry will in turn benefit the entire value chain, which involves manufacturing, entertainment, artisans and other micro-enterprises, he said.
For retailers, nearly 60-70 per cent of costs are fixed with rents and salaries to employees making up a large part, RAI said.
"In times like these, when the demand is inelastic, it is crucial to keep stores open on all days and for extended hours. Only this will help retailers crawl back from the financial distress they have been facing and encourage social distancing," it added.
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