Small retailers urge govt to allow shops to open amid Covid-19 lockdown

After major industries and retail bodies, the smallest of retail businesses have appealed to the government to let shops open amidst the lockdown.

The Federation of Retailer Association of India (FRAI), a representative body of about 40 million micro, small and medium retailers from across the country on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce an economic package to compensate losses under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The members of the association sustain their livelihood by selling goods of daily needs like biscuits, soft drinks, mineral water, cigarettes, bidi, pan etc. in the neighbourhood. The profit of these micro