Trade associations must be authorized to devise Covid protocol: CAIT

New Delhi, 29 Dec (KNN) The restrictions imposed by the Delhi government to curb the spread of Omicorn variant has been called absurd by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), stating that odd-even formula does not help in reducing the rising cases rather it puts the traders as well as the customers in huge problems.

However the Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that trading community stands with the central and state governments in the war against the new variant, and welcomes the new restrictions imposed by the Kejriwal government in Delhi pertaining to Delhi Metro, restaurants, and bars to operate at 50% capacity.

But along with these restrictions, it is extremely necessary that the Delhi government, instead of operating the markets on a complete lock down or on odd-even system, must come up with ways and means to encourage and motivate people to adopt the covid safety protocol, said CAIT.

He further said that it would be better to take any step by taking the trade associations into confidence and with the support of the government machinery, the trade association should be given the responsibility to cooperate and devise measures to conduct customer screening in a systematic manner by adopting the COVID protocol such as “no mask- no sale” policy while dealing with customers.

He pressed that Odd-Even formula will restrict consumer choice and purchase and will have a negative impact on consumer sentiments.

Since, shops are the only immediate contact point of the people and through them a massive awareness campaign can be conducted, instead of opening them in odd-even way, one can empower them by making a strong strategy, suggested Khandelwal.