Industry representatives have had meetings with key government functionaries over resuming economic activities…Read More
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: A leading consumer durables company has begun sanitising its plant in north India for a possible opening-up after three weeks of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is already drawing up a schedule to run the factory with fewer shifts so that the number of workers is lower and social distancing can be maintained.
During the last few days, industry representatives have had meetings with key government functionaries, where they have proposed multiple ways to resume economic activity, although the Centre is yet to take a final call on ending the lockdown, which has seen factories producing “non-essentials” shut down.
After all, the industry is worried over losing revenue, resulting in widespread job losses and debt servicing problems, piling pressure on banks. “We can resume in a graded manner, starting with green zones, where there are few or no cases, provided the industry follows a strict protocol,” said CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee. Ficci has suggested that the lockdown should be extended by seven days in areas with Covid-19 cases, while allowing all secto