Tough times for district police as puja shoppers crowd markets

Jamshedpur: Durga Puja has begun. While the district administration is in an alert mode keeping the risks posed by coronavirus pandemic, crowding in city markets is coming as a big challenge for the administration.

The district administration is finding it difficult to find a balance between allowing people to continue with their life as well as keeping them safe.

The district administration is trying hard to to keep making a co-ordinated effort at every level and to ensure that the state guidelines on Durga Puja celebrations are complied with strictly.

With the start of Durga Pujas, markets are seeing increasing footfalls. People are coming out for puja shopping. Things are not normal this year as economy is down too. Yet, the spirit of puja shoppers is untrammelled and is not lacking in any way.

It is a big challenge for the administration to ensure that there is no crowding in the markets and social distancing norms are followed by everyone.

To ensure that the guidelines are followed strictly, the administration is adopting a tough stance. However, shopkeepers and vendors are resenting their tough stance.

While police feel that too much crowding would only help the pandemic spread faster, the vendors and shopkeepers feel that pujas are the times when they can earn some profit. Already in red due to a long lockdown, the vendors are not ready to let the pujas go away without bringing in some profits for them.

It is true that in view of the tough administrative measures, the shopkeepers and street vendors are on a back-foot for now, but if things remain the same the shopkeepers may demand more relaxation for operating their business.

However, the district administration has made it clear that social distancing measures would have to be followed by everyone.