Caution in short supply at crowded Sarojini Nagar

Covid-19 cases are witnessing an uptick in the city again, Sharma believes things are different now.

Pramod Sharma (58) had demarcated the waiting area outside his shop in Sarojini Nagar in June last year, when the Delhi government allowed markets to reopen after months of lockdown that had been necessitated to contain the rapid spread of Covid-19 in the city.

Shoppers throng the Sarojini Nagar Market on Thursday, throwing all Covid-related precautions to the wind. ( Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

“We allowed only five customers at a time inside the shop, after checking their temperature using a thermal scanner. We had to take strict measures then as everyone was scared and cases were on the rise,” said Sharma.

Though, Covid-19 cases are witnessing an uptick in the city again, Sharma believes things are different now. “Things are different now. We no longer have those restrictions in place, but we don’t allow customers inside without masks,” he said.

This is the situation throughout Sarojini Nagar market, one of Delhi’s popular shopping destinations, as footfall is inching close to pre-Covid times with each passing day. The rise in Covid-19 cases has forced market associations to seek help from district to manage the crowd and ensure social distancing. On Wednesday, one of the traders’ associations in the market wrote to the district administration requesting deployment of additional civil defence volunteers to ensure social distancing.

Ashok Randhawa, president of Sarojini Nagar mini market traders’ association, said, “The rush in the market is increasing despite a rise in Covid-19 cases. We can only request customers to follow norms, but government authorities can take measures to ensure preventive measures are followed by everyone.”

On Thursday, civil defence volunteers were spotted randomly screening some shoppers at the entry point.

“It is impossible to screen everyone entering the market, as the footfall is very high. But our teams are advising people to wear masks and maintain social distancing, which itself is a challenge here,” said a civil defence volunteer. Market associations complain that shoppers had started throwing caution to the wind, with some sometimes not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly.

He said that last, year civil defence volunteers and Delhi Police officials used to screen people using thermal scanners at the four entry points.

“But post-Diwali, these measures were discontinued. We have requested the administration to restart the screening immediately,” he said.

A senior New Delhi district administration official said, “It is not possible to stop people from entering the market or screen everyone. Our teams are taking action against those who refuse to follow the rules.”

On Thursday afternoon, the lanes in the market were packed with people. One of them, Aruna Kumar (40), a shopper, said that she takes all necessary precautions while venturing out. “I wasn’t expecting such a rush in the market during the afternoon hours. I had some important work, else I would not have come here.”

Surjeet Singh Arora, president of Sarojini Nagar Traders Association, said the main problem is street vendors, “The main problem is of street vendors. Their number is increasing and there is no check on them. There are hawkers who move around the entire market.”

Officials from the district administration claimed that only authorised vendors are allowed in the market. Street vendors, on the other hand, said that they have no other place to go. “Last few months have been difficult for us. We have always worked here. Where will we go?” said Kamlesh, a street vendor.

Deputy commissioner of police (south-west) Ingit Pratap Singh said that the police booth at Sarojini Nagar market is being used to make regular announcements asking people to follow social distancing and wear masks at all times when they are in public.