Wokha traders highlight their plight

Dimapur, May 31 (EMN): The Wokha District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (WDCCI) in a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Wokha on Monday highlighted the plight of the business community due to the continuous lockdown imposed by the government.

In a statement on Monday, WDCCI stated the lockdown was “just a measure to flatten the curve and not the solution to a cure.”

“The question still stands as to how long we can adhere and submit to the government imposing lockdown continuously, without the least regard to the plight of the petty local traders, entrepreneurs and the business community  as a whole,” read the statement.

“It is also to be noted that we are neither a complete welfare state nor a country that the Govt. will feed or pay bills for all the needs and expenses of the populace,” it added.

WDCCI therefore stated that this ‘continued lockdown theory’ adding that it was ‘doing more harm than good for the business community in particular and the impact is going to be more harmful and disastrous in the long run’.

“Being the apex body of the district business community having certain mandate in the overall economic policy and activities in the district, the WDCCI feels that it is high time to address our concern to the Govt., before further Iockdown is extended. And as for the virus, none can guarantee that the second wave will be the last. Therefore, unless the Govt. addresses the business loan EMI, business house rents, staff salaries and children education fees, the WDCCI is to urge the Govt. to suggest suitable measures and modalities in consultation with local stakeholders and business community to avoid discrepancies and to prevent the pandemic and at the same time relieve the plight of its citizens,” it read.