Vasai Taluka Hotel Association To Organize Silent Protest Against Govt.’s Decision On Continued Curbs

Mumbai, Aug 03: The Vasai Taluka Hotel Association (VTHA) with the support of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has organized a silent protest against the Government’s decision on continued restrictions on restaurant timings in the district. Tomorrow at 11 am, over 200 hotelier and restaurateurs from the region will join their last-ditch survival protest to express their desperation and helplessness against the continued lockdown. The long-distance protest will commence at Tungar Phata, Vasai and culminate at Collector’s office – Palghar. The Association will submit its plea to the Collector demanding the easing of restrictions for the hotel and restaurant industry. The two Associations have also cited the unfortunate death of a Virar-based hotelier who committed suicide last month due to loss of livelihood because of the Government’s neglect towards the Hospitality industry.

“The industry is at the brink of collapse and the Government is doing nothing to save it. We are not being allowed to operate our businesses but are expected to pay the Government its taxes and other statutory levies without fail. We are organizing this protest to bring to the attention of the authorities the deteriorating condition of our industry. We want the Government to relax the restrictions for us to be able to support our employees and families. We also want the Government to provide us with financial reliefs which so many other States have done to save their Hospitality industry. One of our own recently succumbed to the financial and mental stress caused by the devastation to his business. Debts collectors are at our doorsteps every day and we don’t know how to repay them when we don’t even know when we can go back to re-opening our business,” says Mr. Nagraj Shetty, Secretary, VTHA.

HRAWI has stated that imposition on restaurants’ operation timings is unfair. It has pleaded that restaurants either be allowed to run businesses as usual or if not, at least be offered reliefs and waivers by the Government to unburden them from statutory financial obligations.

“There is no reason for imposing restrictions on restaurant timings and if it is going to continue with the restrictions then the least the Government needs to do is waive the statutory charges for restaurants. A restaurant’s business is in the evenings and hence operating till 4 pm is meaningless. We are being singled out and left to hang dry. The Government needs to lift the restrictions immediately or we will continue to hold similar protests across the State at local levels. It is very disappointing that the Government is not interacting with us, there is no communication. We need a clear roadmap about what is to be expected from the Government for us to accordingly make informed decisions for our businesses,” concludes Mr. Sherry Bhatia, President, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 71 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include various restaurants and smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of restaurants and budget hotels. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel and Restaurant Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata.