As country undergoing conditional relaxation from lockdown so as to give life to economic activities, many small scale units have started operation in State. According to Jharkhand Small Industries Association (JSIA), after Centre and State gave nod to restart industries lifting lockdown partially, around 10 per cent industries have become functional.
Jharkhand Small Industries Association (JSIA) honorary secretary, Anjay Pacheriwala said, “Around 10 per cent industrial units have become functional while 30 to 40 per cent will become functional by Monday.”
As per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Jharkhand government, JSIA has made it mandatory for companies to enforce social distancing at work, provide adequate supply of sanitizers and temporary accommodation facilities to its workforce so that units can become functional.
Sources said that as per MHA and state government guidelines, the other units are working in direction to meet the criteria. Sources said that the biggest obstruction in industrial units starting their operation is providing accommodation facilities for its workforce as many units have problems in arranging temporary accommodation facilities. As per guidelines the accommodation facilities should not be far from factories, many units are taking time to start their operations.
Apart from accommodation facilities, the other hurdles in starting industrial units, is supply of raw material and markets for finished products. In Jharkhand there are around 50,000 small industrial units with around 5000 to 5500 operating in State Capital. The industrial units operating in Jharkhand are in food processing, garments and apparels, plastic industries and fabrication.
Anjay Pacheriwala says as there is complete lockdown since March 25 there is severe shortage of raw materials as most the raw materials is supplied from other states.
The Industries body is also considering that only production will not solve the problem unless there is market for their products.
As there is that indication that Government will go for lifting the lockdown in phase wise, getting suitable markets for their products will not be an easy task for JSIA.
Moreover, JSIA believes that even if centre lifts the lockdown it will take another six months to become business activities normal. The JSIA for survival of industrial units is looking to state and centre with an eyes seeking some relief.
The JSIA wants the state government to give relief on fixed electricity charges for the month of March and April as in these two months industrial activities were stopped due to lockdown.
The JSIA is also looking for financial assistance as despite no industrial activities there was no salary cuts of employees.