Nearly 25,000 gold jewellery manufacturing units across Tamil Nadu are closed. The small-scale jewellery making goldsmiths have appealed to District Collector K. Rajamani to reopen the workshops.

S.M. Kamal Hasan, president of Coimbatore Goldsmiths’ Association, said that a team of goldsmiths met the Collector on July 6. They wanted permission to reopen the workshops. In the workshops, the goldsmiths work at home. Hence, there is very little fear of infection. However, the Collector has said he will not be able to do so till the spread is contained. The government should, otherwise, provide adequate financial support to the goldsmiths, opined the Coimbatore Goldsmiths’ Association.

According to B. Muthuvenkataraman, president of Coimbatore Jewellery Manufacturers’ Association, the goldsmiths are the worst affected. However, it is essential to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Collector has assured that he will relax the containment restriction in phases. The jewellery manufacturing units have limited access to visitors. However, the artisans should not go out much even if lockdown is lifted.

As Chennai market is re-opening, workshops and factories need to complete their orders, however due to strict lockdown, they are unable to do so.