RAI is continuing to pursue RBI to mandate Banks to support Textile, Apparels and Retail Sector for Working Capital Requirement. As per the feedback from our Members, Banks have not been forthcoming in sanctioning additional loans in line with the RBI directives. To support our industry's viewpoints RAI started reaching out to PSU Banks.
RAI delegation had fruitful web meetings with:

1. Shri Rajnish Kumar: Chairman SBI;
2. Shri Raj Kiran Rai, Managing Director & CEO, Union Bank of India
3. Shri Jayant Sinha: Member Covid empowerment group;
4. Shri Sunil Mehta: Chief executive of Indian Banks Association (IBA);
5. Shri Sujit Kumar Varma: Deputy Managing Director, SBI

to apprise them of the immense financial stress faced by the retail sector in the wake of national lockdown due to COVID-19 and to seek their support to pursue GOI & RBI.

Exempting retailers from Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for the sale of hand sanitizers as Essential Commodity

In order to ensure availability of hand sanitizers in adequate quantity and quality in the country in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Central Government had notified hand sanitizers will remain under ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES segment till 30th June, 2020 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Essential Commodities Order, 2020).

RAI has submitted representations to Dr Rajiv Garg, Directorate General of Health Services; Shri Mandeep Bhandari, Honourable Joint Secretary; Ms Preeti Sadan, Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India & Ms. Leena Nandan, Honorable Secretary, Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India to Issue necessary orders under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, exempting retailers from the licensing requirement for the sale of hand sanitizers as an essential commodity (till 30th June, 2020 or until such extended period, if any) as per the orders of the Central Government.