L J Ravi KASSIA would like to first of all thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Industries Minister and the Senior officers of the department of I&C, GOK, for their positive approach to permit industries to reopen in the state in these challenging times.
Industries have indeed started opening from today all over the state, including Bangalore and surrounding districts. Our reliable information from constituents is that upto 25% of the overall number in the major estates like Peenya, Bommasandra, Rajajinagar, Kamakshipalya, Bommasandra, Jigani and the districts of Hubli, Mysore, Mangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga etc., have been able to open. Worryingly, however, the Labour attendance is very thin being around 20% in all these places. This is understandable as the crisis has completely displaced workers and is likely to take considerable time to get back to normal.
Moreover, the Industries that have opened are in the process of doing servicing and maintenance after the long absence. We expect that normalcy will only be achieved in the coming days and weeks subject to establishing substantial control over the crisis.
However, there are serious concerns as inspectors from the BESCOM, ESCOMs, Pollution control dept. etc. have started visiting the factories on one pretext or the other and issuing notices which is very disconcerting for the entrepreneurs in these extremely hard times as it is highly demoralizing and disorienting. We strongly believe that there must not be any inspections as the Industries are just picking themselves up.
The SME entrepreneurs certainly deserve better.
We, therefore urge the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Industries Minister to ensure such inspections or visits, even if legitimate are suspended at least for the next 3 months.
