Jamshedpur Traders protest steep rent hike in Sairat markets

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, March 12: Anger among traders erupted on Thursday as shopkeepers from various Sairat markets staged a protest against the sharp hike in monthly shop rents imposed by the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC).
Under the banner of the Sairat Market Association, a large number of traders gheraoed the JNAC office demanding an immediate rollback of the revised rates.
The protesters described the rent hike as unreasonable and impractical, warning that it could severely impact the livelihoods of small traders. Led by association president Harvinder Singh Mantu, the shopkeepers questioned the administration’s decision-making process and alleged that the increase was imposed without prior consultation with the affected traders.
According to the traders, the monthly rent for shops operating in about 10 Sairat markets across the city has been raised several times over. Shops that earlier paid between Rs 300 and Rs 500 per month are now being asked to pay between Rs 3,000 and Rs 7,000.
The association argued that such a steep increase is illogical and would place an unbearable financial burden on small vendors who depend on these markets for their livelihood.
During the protest, the traders submitted a memorandum through JNAC officials addressed to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum, urging their immediate intervention.
Harvinder Singh Mantu recalled that a similar decision had been taken two to three years ago but was later withdrawn following strong protests by traders and intervention from the state government.
The protesting traders said that the administration should have consulted their association before implementing such a decision. They demanded that if rent revision is necessary, it should be done on a rational basis so that traders can afford to pay it without jeopardizing their businesses.
Several traders, including Shivnandan and Sandeep Barman, along with dozens of shopkeepers from Sairat markets, participated in the demonstration.