For Bakrid, all shops in Kerala are permitted to remain open for three days.
A three-day relaxation of the state-wide lockdown has been declared by the Kerala government ahead of Bakrid on July 20. Apart from necessary retailers, shops selling textiles, jewelry, footwear, electrical goods, and other items can be open until 8 p.m. on July 18, 19, and 20, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office. Based on the test positivity rate, the stores can operate in all zones designated as A, B, or C. This is an exception to the weekend curfew that has been imposed in Kerala.
The government issued lockdown relaxations in July based on test positivity rates of localities, categorising them under four categories: A (with TPR below 5%), B (with TPR between 5-10%), C (between 10-15%), and D (with TPR between 10-15%). (above 15 percent ). Despite this, the state government did not allow stores to be open every day of the week.After several shops petitioned the state government to allow them to open for business, the current decision to open them for Bakrid came after a meeting with the traders’ organisations Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi. Before the CM announced his declaration, T Nasaruddin, state president of the Vyapara Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, said in a press conference on Friday morning that shops will operate on Saturday and Sunday. During the discussion, General Secretary Raju Apsara expressed hope that the CM would take a pro-trader stance.
On July 12, traders in Kozhikode staged a major protest on the streets, clashing with police over the city’s refusal to allow businesses to open on all days of the week. Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister, has warned that anybody who broke the lockdown rule will face severe consequences. He then softened his position, agreeing to meet with the traders’ association on Friday. Many people have criticized Kerala’s lockdown policy as being unscientific and impracticable. Experts predict that if limitations are not eased on all days, more people will gather during the restricted time that enterprises are permitted to operate.
