Coronavirus: CII demands economic package, says industries should be opened in staggered manner
Industry body CII has said the government should announce an economic package before it decides to lift the lockdown, which it said should be done in a staggered manner.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday recommended a “calibrated and safe” lifting of the lockdown, while adding that the government should give adequate notice before it lifts restrictions.
“Prior to the lifting of the lockdown, there has to be adequate notice given to all and along with that there should be announcement of an economic package,” the CII said in a press release on Sunday.
The CII also suggested “a sector-wise health, safety and sanitation protocols to be followed by industry for calling of lockdown and said, “This is an evolving situation and therefore, we should be open to alter our approach as we go along.”
“Given that the number of cases has rapidly increased and hotspots have emerged in the country over the last few days, and that the opening up across the country would need to be slow and staggered, it would be desirable to have three classifications of geographies as red, amber and green, based on the incidence of Covid cases,” the CII suggested.
The industry body said all facilities that reopen must have requisite health, sanitation and screening systems in place to protect workers.
“Various measures have been suggested such as thermal check, social distancing, factory sanitisation and so on. Any enterprise which does not comply with this on a self-certification basis should be subject to stringent penalties,” the CII said.
The CII report, Exit from the Lockdown, suggested a stage-wise and zone wise restart of industrial operations to meet essential needs of the economy, ensure protection of livelihoods and jobs, protect export market shares and meet export obligations besides helping manage the import dependence of the economy.
The Stage 1, according to the CII report, should include 100{b1ee4ac4d8d7b8e1af61a560a11ca52574b8103b547ccac8037ce0cdf9e7ba58} pharmaceuticals manufacturing, textiles and apparels, food processing and minerals and metals.
The second stage includes opening of agri market operations, ecommerce including food and groceries delivery, automobiles, chemicals especially those used for sanitation and other healthcare purposes with a gap of one or two weeks after the first stage sectors start their operations.
The last stage should include opening of other sectors one or two weeks after the second stage sectors start operations, the CII report adds.
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