Stakeholders pitch for two-week lockdown to save lots of key sectors

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the federal government is transferring forward with implementing stringent restrictions to include the unfold of Covid, consultants in varied sectors harassed the necessity to go for a two-week lockdown to save lots of the business, together with tourism, from the long-term influence of the pandemic. At the identical time, commerce our bodies say the lockdown ought to be declared solely as a final resort. 

Benoy Peter, government director of Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development, a Kerala-based non-profit organisation, mentioned the commerce sector can solely transfer forward with the lively participation of migrant labourers.“The state has been depending on migrants heavily in sectors like marine fishing, furniture, plywood manufacturing, textile and apparel, hospitality and healthcare. Almost all industries in the state engage migrant workers, including migrant women, directly or indirectly. However, the situation is very grim due to the high number of Covid cases among migrants. A majority of the sectors will face closure if the government doesn’t impose a lockdown as an immediate measure to check the Covid spread,” he mentioned.

E M Najeeb, senior vice-president, Indian Association of Tour Operators, and chairperson of the Confederation of Tourism Industry, Kerala, mentioned, “The hospitality sector is the worst-affected. If the situation can improve or be managed with a brief lockdown, the state should explore the option after consultation with health experts,” he mentioned. 

The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has already urged the federal government to clamp a two-week lockdown to quell the swell.However, Savio Mathew, head, FICCI Kerala State Council, mentioned, “The lockdown needs to be enforced as a final resort. Already, the primary lockdown and subsequent aftereffects had bled the business, particularly the tourism sector within the state, the economic system of which is closely depending on it. The state authorities has been using micro-containment and regional lockdown measures to examine the unfold of the virus.

If the scenario worsens, there isn’t any means out aside from imposing a lockdown, but it surely ought to be a final step,” he mentioned.Health consultants mentioned though a lockdown won’t  spell the tip of the pandemic, it might probably cut back the strain on the well being assets and decelerate the speed of transmission which can assist the state fight the pandemic by addressing points and reinforcing the well being system.