Retailers Willing To Offer Common Spaces In Malls To Vaccinate General Public: Report

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has put forth a proposal to utilize common spaces in several malls across the nation for Covid-19 vaccination purposes. The body has also requested the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prioritize retailers and their employees as frontline workers and vaccinate the entire workforce too.

“Retailers and shopping centres are willing to offer their premises to vaccinating the general public in a safe and controlled environment that ensures social distancing and safety measures,” the association’s official statement was quoted by The Economic Times.

RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan explained that the inoculation process for a larger segment of people falling below the 45 year age group should be made swifter in the wake of the current circumstances. The association also said that the retail companies are willing to undertake the complete costs of vaccinating its workforce.

Retailers are reportedly troubled by statewide lockdowns announced in several parts of the country. Malls across the country record a monthly business of Rs 15,000 crore in ideal conditions.

However, that figure has nearly halved due to the aforementioned lockdowns and the negative consumer sentiment owing to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, as per the quoted report.

“RAI has appealed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare across state governments to treat retailers and their employees as frontline workers (FLW) and prioritise vaccinating the retail workforce that are serving inside mall premises and retail stores,” the statement read.