Road to recovery: Select sectors to start operation from today

Kolkata: With relaxations given by the Mamata Banerjee government as a move to impose "lockdown with a humane face", selected establishments including some industries are set to start functioning from Monday with skeletal manpower, after remaining closed for 27 long days since the total safety restriction was imposed on March 24.

The state government is ensuring that the establishments are run maintaining all norms of physical distancing to avoid spread of COVID-19.

However, the matters related to functioning of any establishment located within a sensitive zone are being dealt with separately, considering that there is a need to take additional precautionary measures in these areas. The state government announced relaxation on functioning of jute mills, brick kilns, tea processing units, construction and irrigation activities from Monday onward.

However, no more than 15 percent of the total manpower should get engaged per unit of any of these sectors. For the jute mills situated in sensitive zones, only 5 percent of the total manpower can be engaged in work.

Other production and manufacturing units including the small scale ones for which "continuous process" is required, can also function after obtaining necessary approval.

In a bid to start functioning of the units, the authorities need to write to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, seeking approval for the same. The state government had assured necessary clearances, if the applicant is fit to get approval as per the present situation, just within a day's time.

Authorities of several industries and enterprises have already applied to the Chief Secretary at the e-mail address [email protected]. The applications have been processed and many have been granted permission on condition that all the COVID-19 norms will be followed while running the units.

A state government official said that authorities of other interested industries may apply for the same immediately.

There are many jute mills where sanitisation tunnels have been set up at the entry and exit points, through which workers will pass while entering the factory.

Most importantly, employees of these industries, mainly the jute mills, are also receiving their wages for the past 27 days when the units were completely closed. It has happened thanks to the strict step taken by the state government.

It was stated that permission to open the factories will not be given if the jute mills do not clear the due wages. There are around 81 jute mills in the state, mainly in Howrah, Hooghly and North 24-Parganas, in which more than 2.5 lakh people work.

Meanwhile, a large section of the rural populace heaved a sigh of relief as the 100-days work scheme under the MGNREGA project is also going to start from Monday onward. There is a target of creating 22 crore man days in Bengal under the scheme.

The state government will be engaging them in various activities following the set norms in this connection and direction in this regard has been given to all district magistrates.

The IT and ITeS companies will also start functioning with 25 percent of the regular work force, maintaining social distance and health hygiene protocol. On the other hand, allowing commencement of construction work, though in limited number, will be of great help for daily wage labourers.

However, in Bengal the supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will not be allowed till the lockdown continues.