Bengaluru, 15 Jan (KNN) As per media reports,  several merchant organisations in Dakshina (South) Kannada which headquarters in the port city of Mangalore have urged the district administration allow them to conduct business on weekends.

They have proposed for the shops to stay shut for the first two days of a week rather than on weekends.

All of the business that have asked for this are textile, ready-made garment, footwear and mobile phone shops as well as beauty parlours which do maximum business on weekends.

Another demand that follows is to have representatives from merchant organisations and economists who have studied the problems businessmen face due to lockdowns and curfews to be included in the expert committees.

Expressing the plea of MSMEs Santhosh Kamath, President of Karavali Textile, Readymade and Footwear Dealers Association said, merchants in the coastal districts are not able to sustain their businesses, due to losses incurred during curfews and lockdowns.

“Most of the medium and small businessmen are struggling to repay bank loans, pay salaries to employees as well as rent and electricity bills,” he added.

The small business owners have criticised the permission given to political gatherings, festivals and elections.

Hence they have suggested to close down their shops for two days, in the beginning of every week.