Karnataka tells industries to resume work under new norms

Karnataka Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar on Saturday told the state's industrial sector to resume operations, which remained shut over 55 days due to the lockdown enforced since March 25 to contain the coronavirus spread.

"As economic activities have to be reopened despite coronavirus spread affecting normal life, resume operations under the new norms of wearing mask, washing hands with sanitizers, and maintaining social distancing," Shettar told captains of industry in a virtual interaction with members of apex bodies here.

With the easing of the lockdown norms since April 22, Shettar said many units across the state involved in making essential things and as part of the supply chain partially reopened with a single shift and one third employees while adhering to social distancing and maintaining hygienic conditions.

"The Rs 20,000-lakh crore stimulus package Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled to revive the sagging economy and its allocation to various sectors by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will enable industries to rev up and accelerate their growth," asserted Shettar.

Noting that the financial package had something for every sector to give relief from the huge loss suffered due to the Covid-induced lockdown, the Minister said as the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were the lifeline of the manufacturing sector, their working capital needs would be met on priority with liberal schemes.

"Time has come to change the growth pattern. We need to show resilience and adopt bold reforms to make the country a global manufacturing hub," he said.

Industries Department Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta said the state government was committed to support the industrial sector, facing the brunt of the coronavirus scare.

"No restriction on industries employing human resources as per the safety norms. Efforts are also being made to get the migrants workers back to work from the native place within and outside the state," reiterated Gupta.

Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Ficci) Chairman Ullas Kamath said on the occasion that the manufacturing and services sectors would resume their operations to spur growth, leveraging their strength and the stimulus package of the government.

State Industries Commissioner Gunjan Krishna and the apex industry's representatives from this tech city and New Delhi participated in the interaction.