Shortage of supply, lack of staff hit retailers in Chhattisgarh
   Date :31-Mar-2020

Shortage of supply_1 
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Bhilai,
 
People continued to queue up for essential items in departmental stores and general grocery shops. Owing to lockdown, borders of Chhattisgarh have been sealed affecting the supply of several goods. Severalwholesalers of State are complaining of shortage of goods which generally come from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Secondly, owing to fear of COVID-19, many staff have either quit their jobs or migrated to rural areas or their native States without giving information. Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Chhattisgarh Amarjeet Bhagat asserted that government has directed administration of all border districts for giving relaxation to trucks which are carrying vegetables, food and other essential goods.
 
However, the departmental store which runs 8 stores in Chhattisgarh informed that fewer employees showed up to its various outlets in State. “Our staff attendance is down by 45% to 55% in Chhattisgarh and in some stores only 30% of workforce turned up. We have sufficient stock of essential commodities but do not have sufficient staffs to manage everything.
 
We are following all norms and allow only one member of family to enter inside store” said spokesperson of this departmental store chain. Apart from departmental stores and supermarkets, small grocery stores have been affected a lot owing to this coronavirus’ lockdown in nation. Most of them failed to collect their stock as trucks are unable to cross the borders and they are waiting since Wednesday to get supply. “Our biggest problem in running the stores is less attendance of staff as a result even if we have the stocks we are unable to get it into the stores right now” stated BP Khandelwal, General Secretary of Chhattisgarh Grocery Association.
 
Most of the retailers in state told that they were facing difficulties ensuring movement of goods from their warehouses to stores. If the situation persists for another three to four days, then all retailers including big merchants will have a big problem of stock availability. Retailers mentioned that they are ready with home deliveries, but are seeking clarity with regards to using small vehicles for delivering goods and ensure, they have enough manpower in stores to carry them out. “It is work in progress, but barriers exist when it comes to movement of vehicles and enough staffs. In some areas, warehouses are facing issues and we are in talks with government to ensure smooth functioning” pointed Jitendra Barlota, President of Chhattisgarh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.