Manpower woes constrain retailers in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: If you go to a retail outlet, don’t be surprised if you don’t find soaps, toothpaste, detergent, hand wash, sanitizers and antiseptic liquids, among others on store counters. Even though the manufacturing, supply and sale of essentials including food grains, medicines, milk and vegetables is permitted under a lockdown, shortage of manpower at manufacturer, transporter, distributor and retailer level has triggered a shortage of an array of items used in daily essentials.While medicines are not in short-supply, manpower woes are even delaying the supply of medicines to retail counter.
Estimates by transporters suggest that the inflow of stock has gone down by at least 80%, especially of items manufactured outside the state, due to the lockdown situation. Manpower shortage which prevails across the country, because of which supply chain has been hampered and there may be a shortage of items if the lockdown extended.
Retailers fret over depleting stocks, limited supply: Counters at retail stores are emptying fast and with no revival in supply chain situations. A number of retailers of essentials, food grains, FMCG products and medicines are currently battling shortage of stock of a lot of items, as manpower constraints continue plague sectors amid the lockdown.
“Even though we have limited the store timings to four hours each in the morning and evening, the stocks are depleting fast as uncertainty over the duration of lockdown has driven people to stock up on double the quantity of items than what they normally purchase,” said a grocery and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) retailer based in Prahladnagar area of Ahmedabad.
No shortage of grain, pulses but worries over extended lockdown: Ahmedabad Grain Merchants’ Market in Kalupur area of the city is currently operational and estimates by Ahmedabad Grain Merchants’ Association suggest there is no shortage of grains with some 30-40% traders operating business as usual. “The stock of pulses come from outside Gujarat and at present, the stock is enough. However, there are concerns over extension of lockdown which may trigger a shortage,” said an association member.
FMCG distributors face supply chain troubles: Manpower shortage with restriction on movement of labourers has crippled the FMCG supply chain. Estimates by distributors suggest that some 85% of labourer strength is missing due to which supplying stock to a retailer is difficult. “Labourer shortage already prevails and due to lockdown, those who are staying in Ahmedabad are faced with extreme movement restriction. Many of them have been stopped and questioned and even thrashed by the police and as a result, they don’t turn up to work due to panic situation,” said Rajat Diwan, vice-president, Federation of Gujarat Distributors Association (FGDA).
Distributors suggest that apart from biscuits, noodles, toothpastes and soaps, the stock of infant food is also falling short.
Vegetable supply continues unhindered:Estimates by Ahmedabad Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) suggest that 30,060 quintals of vegetables were supplied in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. “There is no shortage of vegetables whatsoever and in fact, there is excess stock at the APMC. There are fears over extension of lockdown, but the supply of vegetables being essential commodities, should not be disrupted,” said Deepak Patel, secretary, APMC Ahmedabad.
Sources also confirmed that vegetables such as onions, green peas, cluster beans, string beans and coccinea which come from outside the state are being received in adequate quantities.