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NEW DELHI: Retailers and merchants expect to reopen more stores starting Monday under new relaxed government guidelines for the extended shutdown period through May 17, although they still seek clarity from local authorities.
The Indian Retail Association (RAI) said it will have to be seen how it works on the ground as there is confusion, and many states have yet to come up with guidelines for following the Center’s decision. You have already stated that what constitutes markets could be misinterpreted.
Similarly, the Confederation of All Merchants of India (CAIT) also stated that they will be in a “dilemma” as there is confusion over “what constitutes a neighborhood store and an independent store”, while organized retailers such as Future Group and V-Mart Retail said they are also seeking permits from local authorities.
“Some parts of the business will reopen. What we see is that there is the possibility of opening some independent stores … We will open where we can and talk to local authorities to open. We will have to see how it works.
“In any case, the individual states will have to present clear guidelines. While some states have presented the guidelines but they are the same as the Center has said. I think the states are also confused and are printing the same thing that the center is sending.” RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan told PTI.
Expressing similar concerns, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said: “Traders will be in a dilemma.”
When asked if things are expected to change on the ground with Phase 3 closing as of Monday, he said there is “a lack of clarity and confusion about what constitutes a neighborhood store and an independent store.”
He stated that “the clarification must come from the correct neighborhoods. Not only the Center, it is the duty of the state governments to issue that clarification because most of the matters are under the domain of the state governments, the police authorities also function according to their directives” .
National Secretary General of the All India Federation, Vyapar Mandal, VK Bansal said: “The biggest problem with the guidelines is that it all depends on the states. The states frame their own policies and do not want to take any responsibility. The Center wants relaxation but states are restrictive. ”
While wholesale markets cannot open in red zones in Delhi, he said, independent stores may open, but the role of the state government was crucial in implementing the Center’s guidelines.
Bansal added that the unavailability of migrant labor was a major problem faced by store owners, who restricted their operations.
According to leading retail group Future, the company would now start selling non-essential products and food whenever allowed after the new notification.
“Within Big Bazar, we could now sell not only essential food and items, but other items such as tableware, kitchen utensils, and general merchandise. Even in Big Bazaar, in certain places we would start selling other products besides food,” he said. . A future official of the group.
The Future Group, which operates in various formats such as the Big Bazaar department store and neighboring Easyday store, said the company is in the process of obtaining permission to open stores in the green zone.
“Wherever we have independent stores in the green zone, we are also checking with the authorities when to start operating,” the official said.
According to another Future group official, most of its large-format stores such as Big Bazaar are located in shopping malls, which have remained closed even during the second phase of closure.
“Big Bazaars’ independent stores were already operating. Some of our stores are in areas that are not shopping malls and we have written to local authorities asking for permission for that,” he said.
About 80 percent of Big Bazaar stores are operational with various restrictions, such as time, number of visits, and retail activities limited to essential items only, the official said.
Fashion and lifestyle product retailer V-Mart Retail also said it is preparing to open stores in the green and orange zone, but reiterated the need to clarify the difference between shopping malls and independent stores, especially in small towns.
“We have about 62 stores in the green zone and 98 in orange, where there are possibilities for the stores to open. We are in talks with the local administration to allow the stores to open,” said the president of V-Mart Retail and MD Lalit. . Agarwal said.
However, he said it will be a gradual opening as people would initially hesitate to enter the store.
“We expect all of our stores to open gradually and in the initial month only 20 percent of customers would visit,” said Agarwal.
He sought greater clarity from the government on the differentiation between a mall and independent retailers.
“In small towns, there are no shopping malls and they (local authorities) misunderstand small independent stores like us for a shopping mall and forbid us to operate,” said Agarwal.
According to MHA guidelines, shopping malls will continue to be closed in all areas.
In the red zone, all shopping malls, market complexes and markets will remain closed in urban areas, which are within the boundaries of municipal corporations and municipalities. However, stores that sell essential products in markets and market complexes are allowed.
All independent stores, neighborhood stores, and stores in residential complexes are permitted in urban areas with no restrictions on essentials and nonessentials. In rural areas, all stores, except shopping malls, can open without distinction between the essential and the non-essential, but social distance must be maintained in all cases.
In green and amber areas, there are no such restrictions for independent markets, neighborhoods and shops.
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The Indian Retail Association (RAI) said it will have to be seen how it works on the ground as there is confusion, and many states have yet to come up with guidelines for following the Center’s decision. You have already stated that what constitutes markets could be misinterpreted.
Similarly, the Confederation of All Merchants of India (CAIT) also stated that they will be in a “dilemma” as there is confusion over “what constitutes a neighborhood store and an independent store”, while organized retailers such as Future Group and V-Mart Retail said they are also seeking permits from local authorities.
“Some parts of the business will reopen. What we see is that there is the possibility of opening some independent stores … We will open where we can and talk to local authorities to open. We will have to see how it works.
“In any case, the individual states will have to present clear guidelines. While some states have presented the guidelines but they are the same as the Center has said. I think the states are also confused and are printing the same thing that the center is sending.” RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan told PTI.
Expressing similar concerns, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said: “Traders will be in a dilemma.”
When asked if things are expected to change on the ground with Phase 3 closing as of Monday, he said there is “a lack of clarity and confusion about what constitutes a neighborhood store and an independent store.”
He stated that “the clarification must come from the correct neighborhoods. Not only the Center, it is the duty of the state governments to issue that clarification because most of the matters are under the domain of the state governments, the police authorities also function according to their directives” .
National Secretary General of the All India Federation, Vyapar Mandal, VK Bansal said: “The biggest problem with the guidelines is that it all depends on the states. The states frame their own policies and do not want to take any responsibility. The Center wants relaxation but states are restrictive. ”
While wholesale markets cannot open in red zones in Delhi, he said, independent stores may open, but the role of the state government was crucial in implementing the Center’s guidelines.
Bansal added that the unavailability of migrant labor was a major problem faced by store owners, who restricted their operations.
According to leading retail group Future, the company would now start selling non-essential products and food whenever allowed after the new notification.
“Within Big Bazar, we could now sell not only essential food and items, but other items such as tableware, kitchen utensils, and general merchandise. Even in Big Bazaar, in certain places we would start selling other products besides food,” he said. . A future official of the group.
The Future Group, which operates in various formats such as the Big Bazaar department store and neighboring Easyday store, said the company is in the process of obtaining permission to open stores in the green zone.
“Wherever we have independent stores in the green zone, we are also checking with the authorities when to start operating,” the official said.
According to another Future group official, most of its large-format stores such as Big Bazaar are located in shopping malls, which have remained closed even during the second phase of closure.
“Big Bazaars’ independent stores were already operating. Some of our stores are in areas that are not shopping malls and we have written to local authorities asking for permission for that,” he said.
About 80 percent of Big Bazaar stores are operational with various restrictions, such as time, number of visits, and retail activities limited to essential items only, the official said.
Fashion and lifestyle product retailer V-Mart Retail also said it is preparing to open stores in the green and orange zone, but reiterated the need to clarify the difference between shopping malls and independent stores, especially in small towns.
“We have about 62 stores in the green zone and 98 in orange, where there are possibilities for the stores to open. We are in talks with the local administration to allow the stores to open,” said the president of V-Mart Retail and MD Lalit. . Agarwal said.
However, he said it will be a gradual opening as people would initially hesitate to enter the store.
“We expect all of our stores to open gradually and in the initial month only 20 percent of customers would visit,” said Agarwal.
He sought greater clarity from the government on the differentiation between a mall and independent retailers.
“In small towns, there are no shopping malls and they (local authorities) misunderstand small independent stores like us for a shopping mall and forbid us to operate,” said Agarwal.
According to MHA guidelines, shopping malls will continue to be closed in all areas.
In the red zone, all shopping malls, market complexes and markets will remain closed in urban areas, which are within the boundaries of municipal corporations and municipalities. However, stores that sell essential products in markets and market complexes are allowed.
All independent stores, neighborhood stores, and stores in residential complexes are permitted in urban areas with no restrictions on essentials and nonessentials. In rural areas, all stores, except shopping malls, can open without distinction between the essential and the non-essential, but social distance must be maintained in all cases.
In green and amber areas, there are no such restrictions for independent markets, neighborhoods and shops.
