MADURAI: Welcoming the various lockdown relaxations announced by the state government, the Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has requested chief minister M K Stalin to permit reopening of cottage industries and small businesses.
Chamber president N Jegatheesan said the government should conduct district-level consultative meetings by the respective collectors and the local stakeholders and recommend reopening of small businesses so that they would be relieved from the unexpected financial crisis they are going through.
“We are not talking about big brands and chain of showrooms but are voicing for the cottage industries.
In Madurai, there are more than 500 stainless steel utensil makers, over 200 slipper and footwear manufacturers and over 200 boutique and textile units.
These units are makers cum sellers as cottage units,” he said.
Jegatheesan added that opening of these units would not only benefit the units and their dependent employee families but also the public who are unable to make such purchases who did not expect the lockdown extensions.
The chamber stated that opening these units would help people on important occasions like births and weddings.
It has suggested a cap on 1,000 square feet for footwear outlets and 2,000 square feet for boutiques and garment outlets based on representation made by the respective associations to the chamber.