Delhi MSMEs incur financial & job losses due to Covid restrictions; seek relaxations

New Delhi, 10 Jan (KNN) It is reported that the ongoing restrictions imposed due to spike in COVID-19 cases has financially impacted MSMEs resulting in workers unemployment, hence they have appealed to the government to relax certain conditions for them to operate their businesses. 

MSMEs have said that the government has not made efforts to help them during these circumstances as they did not consider MSMEs before imposing the restrictions. 

They also see labourers leaving for the villages due to the current challenging situation as production and income has become lower than usual. 

The Chairman of Jhilmil Friends Colony Industrial area body, Dr Anil Gupta, said “There are 3,000 MSMEs in our area and at least one lakh workers in Delhi. We show 100 per cent compliance with COVID-19 norms and our entire workforce is fully vaccinated. There are no crowds either. But still, we are always the first who are told to shut down our work by the government."

He pointed out that MSMEs pay INR 1 crore in taxes daily, and now they are under triple attack.

Vinit Jain, the General Secretary of the Jhilmil Friends Colony Industrial area body said, "We are yet to get out of the difficulties faced during the first two lockdowns. Even this curfew is like a lockdown to us. 100 per cent of our labour is fully vaccinated. We follow COVID-19 protocols while working. Our work does not involve any public dealing. Restrictions on industries are beyond my understanding."

Charanjit Singh, General Secretary, Okhla Industrial area highlighted the struggles of the MSME industry in the area, both from an owner and labourers' standpoint and suggested that the government allow them to function at 50 per cent capacity.

A loss of INR five crore in two days has been reported in Okhla units alone. 

“My suggestion to government is that we should be allowed to work at 50 per cent capacity. Had this been allowed, we would have suffered less," he said.

"There are 180 units here. 120 of them work in night duty. There are problems for labourers. If they go back to villages, they do not return. They also face struggles while travelling to their workplaces since they do not have personal vehicles and capacity in public transport has been reduced too,” he added.