Mumbai: Hotelier’s death brings back focus on industry’s woes

Customers seen at Goa Portuguese restaurant and bar in Mahim

The death of a Virar-based hotelier, who committed suicide a couple of days back due to the financial burden brought about by loss of livelihood, has once again brought to the fore the issues being faced by the food and hospitality industry in the state.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has expressed anguish over the unfair and unjustified imposition of restrictions on hotels and restaurants and have demanded the right to earn their livelihood.

According to the HRAWI, the hotelier, who died was being hounded by debtors and with no means or source of income to pay them, he was forced to commit suicide. The association also claimed that this was one such incident of the many where owners of hospitality establishments have succumbed to mental stress caused by financial losses.

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A customer collects a food packet from Hotel Udipi at MG Road, Ghatkopar. File pics

The HRAWI has demanded that they either be allowed to run their businesses as usual or be offered relief and waivers by the government to take off the burden of statutory financial obligations. It has requested the government to revise the timings and protocols so that restaurants could be run without restrictions in cities and districts with very low Covid-19 cases.

It further requested that restaurants falling under Level 2 or Level 1 be allowed to operate as per the timings of their respective licenses. The HRAWI said that eateries should be allowed to operate through the week from 7 am to 12:30 am, including weekends.

"It is extremely upsetting to know that a hotelier ended his life due to financial issues. And unfortunately, this is not the only case. Over the last year-and-a-half, similar incidents have occurred and the underlying reason has been the same. Hotel and restaurant owners are grappling with several issues, including loss of business, payment of salaries, maintenance of property, and additional burden of rent, license fees, taxes, statutory fees and utility bills. This is leading to a lot of mental stress and is forcing entrepreneurs to take drastic steps. No person should be put in a position where they feel that ending their life is the solution to their woes. It is high time the government wakes up and takes this issue seriously," said Sherry Bhatia, president, HRAWI.