Small-scale gold smithies and jewellery factories in Coimbatore Corporation limits will reopen on July 22 (Wednesday).
The authorities had asked the smithies to down shutters following COVID-19 positive cases at one of the jewellery manufacturing units a few days ago.
“We appealed to MLA Amman K. Arjunan and Minister S.P. Velumani for permission to reopen the small smithies. These are units that have just five or six people and they work out of their house. They will not come out of their house. The authorities gave permission on Tuesday afternoon,” said S. M. Kamal Hasan, president of Coimbatore Goldsmiths Association.
“There is demand for jewellery and these small-scale jewellery workshops can start functioning. These goldsmiths will not demand financial support from the government if they are permitted to work,” he added.
The containment restrictions will continue in the COVID-19 affected areas where the smithies are located, said Mr. Kamal Hasan.
President of the Coimbatore Jewellers’ Association Sabarinath said that the small and medium-scale factories would also resume operations on Wednesday.
Further, many jewellers have closed the retail outlets voluntarily to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The other jewellers have kept the shops open and are following the government norms, he said.
