Mangaluru: District Catering Owners’ Association, Shamiyana Owners’ Association, South Canara Photographers’ Association, and Sounds and Lightings Owners’ Association jointly organised a press meet here on Saturday May 22. They demanded packages from the government as they are affected due to the lockdown restrictions.
In the memorandum, they requested Chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa to waive off some taxes and defer loan payment. They also requested subsidies or some relief package for the workers as they are whole event management industry has been suffering due to Covid lockdown.
Speaking to News Karnataka Anees, President of South Canara Catering Association said, “During our business season again lockdown has been imposed due to the increase in Covid cases. We have 120 registered caterers in our association. On an average, there are 1,200 permanent workers with us. Due to the restrictions on public events, marriages we are suffering from losses. Most of our workers are unemployed. The government has completely neglected us while announcing the relief packages. We request the government to recognise us and at least provide some relief packages to our workers.”
Claver D’souza from Shamiyana Owners’ Association said, “We have 240 registered members in Mangaluru unit of Shamiyana Owners’ Association. We have an average of 1,430 permanent workers with us. The government has not recognised us in the relief package announced for the labourers of unorganised sectors. So we request CM Yediyurappa to grant some allowance or to defer loan payment.
South Canara Photographers’ Association District President Shreedhar Shettigar expressing the same views said “Government has neglected us while announcing relief packages. There are 3,826 registered members in our undivided district association. We want the government to grant some subsidy loans to endure the losses,” he added.
Sounds and Lightings Owners’ Association president Ashok Kumar, Venkataraya Pai, South Canara Photographers’ Association Dakshina Kannada and Udupi general secretary Harish Adyar and others were present.
