NEW DELHI, 24 April 2020: Committing itself to work with the Centre and the state governments to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Assocham has formulated a calibrated approach for re-opening of the economic activities in phases, putting agriculture, export units, highly automated industries and selective construction ahead of other vital sectors, with each phase strictly adhering to the safety SOPs, which include medical fitness and testing of employees resuming work.
In a report, ‘India opening for Business–Suggested calibrated approach and potential SoP,’ the Assocham has outlined detailed Standard Operating Procedures for resuming the most vital sectors of the economy.
Giving the top most priority to the safety of work force and all other stakeholders, the Assocham SOP has suggested mandatory medical check-up to be arranged for all employees and contract workers with repeat tests every month, till the pandemic is completely rooted out.
Speaking on this, Assocham secretary general, Deepak Sood said, “As the Rabi harvest is picking up, necessitating the workforce to be in the fields along with agri machinery, it is imperative to facilitate the most important activity which has provided the food security to the country.”
“While the agriculture sector may not be contributing commensurately with other segments in the Gross Domestic Product, it is India's lifeline giving livelihood to over half of our population. This sector certainly needs the maximum of the national resources and commitment. It is good to see several states responding very well to the sector,” Sood added..
Sood said, the report has identified the challenges to our manufacturing sectors, both internally and externally if gradual but consistent opening is not allowed. The sectors like food processing, automobile, textile, defence production, electronic hardware must be re-booted fast; or else China which has largely recovered from the Coronavirus blow would force out all other competitors including India. Besides, these sectors, including energy are highly employment oriented in nature with a huge multiplier along with the value chain.