More than five lakh shops in Chennai down shutters

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

An estimated five lakh shops, commercial establishments and street vendors in the city downed shutters as traders braving the hot sun took part in the massive conclave organized at Island Grounds to mark Traders Day on Saturday.

Roads wore a desolate look and traffic was skeletal as busy shopping areas remained deserted and people flocked to malls, which remained open, to buy their groceries.

“We have downed shutters for one day to show our solidarity with our leaders,” said Satish Kumar, a nut trader at Vysarpadi and a member of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai.

More than 80 per cent of shops in the busy Koyambedu vegetable and fruit market hardly had any business and shops remained shut. A wholesale vegetable businessman said that lorries have also not arrived and many businessmen have gone to attend conclaves at Island Ground and Dindigul.

Interestingly, business was usual in flower market. Mookaiyan, secretary of Koyambedu Flower Wholesale Market Association said business was as susual and they did not shut shops as it would affect the business heavily.

The venue at Island Ground wore a festive look with giant cutouts, blaring loudspeakers hailing Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai leader Vellayan. Important dignitaries like Mayor Saidai Duraiswamy and Labour Minister S T Chellapandian also attended the function and delivered speeches. There was also a resolution by the Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai hailing Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for opposing the Union government’s move to oppose Foreign Direct Investment in retail sector.  

T Sigamani of Lalitha Traders in Tuticorin, who had come all the way to attend the conclave along with 50 other traders told Express that the traders are angry over the Union government move to bring in foreign direct investment in retail sector. “We oppose the move and want to show our solidarity,” he said.

Interestingly, many of the traders who participated in the conclave are street vendors, grocery shop owners or small commercial establishments. S Ravi of Sudha Cool Bar, who makes a profit of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 a day, said he closed his shop to show his solidarity with the traders.

The venue had a floating population with strong police bandobust as buses carrying traders from various parts of the state were plying in and out. Food was being arranged free of cost for the traders who visited the venue braving the hot sun. “We have arranged for food as well as water,” said one of the organizers of the conclave.