Dimapur traders heave sigh of relief as lockdown relaxed

Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 27 (EMN): More than a month after the nationwide lockdown was imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), Nagaland government has eased restrictions including opening of shops, and it comes as no surprise that businesses and shop owners have been hit hard by the measure.

An owner of a household goods shop told Eastern Mirror that he had not paid rent for his house as well as the shop for two months, as his only source of income was his shop and it had to be closed due to lockdown. He added that he had to pay school fee of his daughter who studies in a private school, and somehow has been able to manage to run the house during the lockdown.

The businessman said he was happy that he could open his shop from April 27 and sell whatever was available. ‘Now that the shop is open from today, I am less tensed,’ he said.

He however informed that even though shops were allowed to open, he was unable to get fresh stock as wholesale shop at New Market was sealed. He also expressed hope that the landlord would give him some discount since he has been their tenant for many years, but he is yet to discuss about the rent.

In a similar case, an electrical shop owner said that he was facing lots of difficulties because of the lockdown, and that it was good the government has allowed shops to open.

"If business keeps running, it would be good for us," he said, while expressing hope that he would be able to pay house rent with the shops opening from April 27. Three employees of the store said that they had have received their salary but not in full.

While speaking to this newspaper, a stationery shop owner informed that even though schools and colleges are closed, online classes have started so the students require notebooks and other items. He added that he received phone calls from people asking about the availability of stationary items.

An owner of a bakery shop said that everyone was facing difficulties due to lockdown, and though shops were allowed to be opened from April 27, most of the items at his shop would be expired.

He added that if lockdown continues, his business would go down while he has to pay rent for the shop as well as his employees. "Moreover, since the main wholesalers at New Market are closed, it would be very difficult to adjust to the new setting all of a sudden," he shared.

Abdul Mannan, a shop owner at Duncan Bosti, said that they were not prepared for this kind of situation to happen. The lockdown started from March 22 and gradually they were able to procure stocks from the suppliers.

Mannan said that after the second lockdown, it had become very difficult to purchase stocks, adding that the most difficult part was the welfare of the children, especially school fees. "At the same time, outstanding payment has to be made to suppliers but luckily through God’s grace there are no cases in Nagaland," he added.