India: 14,000 traders in Burrabazar textile hub to follow self-imposed lockdown for a week
KOLKATA: A sharp spike in novel coronavirus cases in the central Kolkata business hub has led 14,000 traders in eastern India’s biggest textile hub to keep their establishments shut for one week starting Wednesday.
Most of these shops are located in clusters in Burrabazar, Brabourne Road, MG Road, Mechhua, Cotton Street and Kalakar Street and cater to the demands of textile not only in West Bengal but also neighbouring states and countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. The decision to keep the shops and showrooms shut was taken to disrupt the spread of the novel coronavirus which has so far infected more than 1,000 people in Burrabazar, though locals feel several hundred cases may have gone unreported. Several people have even lost their lives to the virus.
In the last two weeks, concerns within the business community have been apparent over the rising cases of Covid-19 which is not only keeping the markets deserted but also affecting their members.
Arun Bhuwalka, president of Chamber of Textile Trade and Industry, apex body for textile trade and in eastern India, said the decision was taken after consulting all member associations who have assured that they will abide by the decision. “It is very important to be careful now because the virus is spreading rapidly and it has affected many people already. We feel our decision to keep our businesses shut for one week will go a long way in checking the spread of the virus in these pockets. We have also reached out to other markets in the area to work out a method in which they keep their establishments shut for a few days,” said Bhuwalka.
The textile industry generates more than 10 million livelihoods directly and indirectly including traders, weavers, embroidery industry and transportation.
There are close to 15,000 establishments engaged in the business of hosiery, garments and apparels in the textile hub. “Five to ten per cent very small traders may remain open to make their ends meet but close to 90% will abide by the decision taken by the apex body,” said Bhuwalka.
West Bengal has historically been the hub of textile business in India for over a century catering to the needs of Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering more than 25% of India’s population. Kolkata has been the biggest trading centre for textiles in Eastern India with over half a million handloom weavers across the state.
“The business is down by over 60% due to the pandemic, but we are still anticipating losses of over several crores due to the self-imposed lockdown, but safety of people is more important,” said Bhuwalka.
Source: The Times Of India, India Thursday, 30 July 2020