Self-employed, small traders struggling to manage day to day expenses

Lockdown has made every one cry, but the small traders and self-employed are among the worst effected ones. The Live Nagpur interacted with such traders from non-essential commodity trade.

Kukku Marwaha, President of Nagpur Truckers Unity said, “Conditions of transporters is going from bad to worse, day by day.  Now the big question before the truckers is survival of themselves and their family. Production, manufacturing is completely closed, big question in front of transporters how to carry paddle convoy of life. On top of that the rate of diesel is increasing adding to the misery.”

Marwaha added that the transporter has to fulfil family responsibility, but also has to pay to the staff, drivers/cleaners. Instalments and taxes are also to be paid. “The Government must stop all instalments of vehicle, insurance and taxes of transporter for two years. So that the transport and the transport industry will survive. One truck is run regularly can take care of 6 families. It earns for the financer, Government and many more indirectly,” Marwaha said.

Ready-made garments manufacturers are also in deep trouble. Arun Kale, one of the manufacture said, “Nagpur is good center for manufacturing of salwar suit, tops and many other items. This items are in good demand throughout the country. With mission begin again, we invested huge capital in manufacturing ready-made items, looking at the marriage and festival season ahead. Lockdown of April and now its extension has shed cool water on all our means of survival.”

He added that the manufactured stock is dumped. Payment of tailors and workers has been made, and capital of the manufacturers is exhausted.

“How to survive is the big question for us. Even we cannot run away from the responsibility of payment of staff, bank instalments and other financial commitments,” Kale added.

Chandrashekar Bhimare, who is into tent, decoration business echoed the same story.

“For the wedding season, I had placed orders of plates and other items at Delhi for Rs 3 lakh. As per the condition had to pay 60 per cent amount in advance. But now I’m unable to get the delivery due to lockdown.

April Lockdown had cancelled all bookings of the peak period of the season. We are the worse suffers, and no one is there to consider our plight.”

Ram Shastrakar whi runs a catering business added that in the year his annual turnover in 2019 was to the tune of Rs 20 lakh. In the year 2020 it came down to Rs 9 lakhs only. This year 17 orders has been cancelled.

“If the lockdown continues, I will be sitting on the raod begging,” Ram Lamented.

Shanjay Shinde, doing daily collection for co-operative society said, “Pigmy agents like me are among the worse effected people. Shops are closed, collection nill our earning was totally on the amount we collected, increasing petrol cost are big problems before us.” Even the general merchants, tailors and all from other sector of non-essential commodities echoed that customer needs services of all. The Government must allow all shops to be open.