Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai also touted as Asia's biggest jewellery market re-opened on June 5, following the massive lockdown which began on March 22.

Some store owners confirmed to have conducted about ten per cent business on the first day. Stores have adopted all precautionary measures and will continue to do so. Customers are given sanitizers and face mask. Despite assurances given to customers about adequate sanitization care taken, footfall is yet to increase. 

There is a shortage of artisans, as many have returned to their villages fearing the pandemic and haven’t reported to work, this may result in increase in jewellery making charges. The current charge ranges from 9 to 12 percent of prevailing gold rate, which is expected to increase in coming days. Besides, the gold rate is also anticipated to touch Rs 80,000 by end of this year. 

Many representatives of artisans have rallied around with new demands for welfare of the karigars, these include: artisans should be assured that they will have health security at work place. Moreover, their income should also be protected.

Before lockdown was announced, an artisan used to earn Rs 8,000 to 10,000 per month but once they come back to work their payments should be increased. Moreover, currently, karigars get one gm of gold against 10 gms of gold making. Those who are working for a few decades must have collected a few grams. Therefore, now this reserved gold of artisans should be released by jewellers on priority. And henceforth, artisans’ investment should only be his art and labour and not gold, only then their confidence will be attained. Grassroot level labour should be taken care of once the sector is revived.

In Zaveri Bazaar alone, there were about 1.70 lakh karigars who have already left for their native places and only 10,000 to 12,000 artisans are available, who are also planning to go back to their hometown.

No gold rush, buyers stay away

• * As per State directives, it has been decided that stores on the right side of the road will do business on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
• * Those on the left side of the road will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 
• * The stores will raise their shutters at 9 AM and roll them down at 5 PM
• * They can have up to 10 percent of the workforce or 10 people, whichever is higher.
• * In addition to jewellery stores, the area also houses some 30,000-odd jewelry manufacturing units.
• * In Mumbai, not many buyers were excited to flock to the iconic Zaveri Bazaar on Day One of the lockdown easing
•  * Officials from India Bullion and Jewelers Association, which has headquarters in Zaveri Bazaar say that they expect the footfall to start increasing in another fortnight or so 
• * It could take two to three months for business to come back to normal