The United Merchants Chamber’s (UMC) Kollam district committee is organising a dharna on Saturday (May 30) seeking immediate government intervention to address the issues of those working in hotel, bakery, and catering sectors. “Over 3,000 hotels, bakeries, and catering units have shut down due to the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and commercial cooking gas, compounded by fuel price hikes and supply shortages. Furthermore, the NH 66 widening project has displaced over 2,000 commercial establishments in Kollam alone, leaving numerous traders and workers unemployed and burdened with massive debts,” said UMC members at a press meet here on Friday.Six-pointer charterThe UMC has put forward a six-point charter of demands to alleviate the financial crisis plaguing small and medium businesses. Chief among these is the immediate rollback of unregulated price hikes on domestic and commercial LPG cylinders by oil marketing companies, alongside a thorough investigation into black-marketing and hoarding in the cooking gas supply chain. To counter energy costs, the chamber is demanding subsidised solar-powered electric stoves for all commercial kitchens and rental agreements be accepted as valid documentation for tenant merchants to avail of the subsidy.Addressing the rehabilitation of NH 66 evictees, the UMC demands swift disbursement of ₹2 lakh each to all displaced traders, in line with a High Court order. “Affected merchants who have been unable to restart their businesses should be allowed to set up shops in the vacant passages beneath the newly constructed pillar-elevated highways,” they said. The chamber has also called for the creation of a dedicated Ministry for Small and Medium Traders to systematically address the ongoing grievances of the sector. Published - May 29, 2026 06:55 pm IST