Latest News | Retailers Express Concern over Vax Condition to Open Malls, Shops Till 10pm in Maha

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) The Retailers Association of India on Thursday welcomed the Maharashtra government's decision to allow malls, shops and restaurant to open till 10 PM.

However, the association termed the development as a mixed blessing for the sector as some clauses in the notification are not easy to meet.

Also Read | TS LAWCET 2021: Admit Cards Released Online, Candidates Can Download Hall Tickets at lawcet.tsche.ac.in.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday decided to allow malls and restaurants to remain open till 10 pm with a 50 per cent capacity from August 15 onwards, provided the entire staff is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said, "The notification on reopening malls and allowing stores and restaurants to stay open till late is a welcome move. The long pending decision was essential to help people get their jobs back and save their livelihoods."

Also Read | MG Motor Launches New Hector Trim With Price Starting at Rs 14.51 Lakh.

It mandates all employees working in a mall, shops in malls as well as customers to be fully vaccinated with a gap of 14 days between the date of joining /visiting the mall and their second vaccination.

"It is an impractical ask as many people working in malls and stores are in the 20-45 years age bracket and therefore not even eligible for getting fully vaccinated.

"When their eligibility has not been addressed, how can they resume their duties in malls? And how do malls resume operations without its people? We hope the government rethinks the conditions and modifies the order," said Rajagopalan.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)