Assam Economy's Recovery from Lockdown: Key Takeaways from Inside Northeast Digital Conclave

Guwahati, April 27, 2020:

After the COVID-19 pandemic reached Indian shores, the economy braced for a collapse. What unfolded in the weeks since the outbreak has left the economic system in tatters, with almost every single sector incurring significant losses. However, with the lockdown coming to an end on May 3, all eyes will be on the nation's economy, as the industries will seek to cautiously once again resume operations. At the Inside Northeast Digital Conclave with the theme focused on how the economy of Assam will rebound once the lockdown comes to an end, many of the industry leaders raised their respective concerns.

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Jayanta Malla Baruah, the Chairman of the badly-hit Assam Tourism, says that the challenge will be in adapting to change after the lockdown. "Every problem comes with an opportunity. In the post COVID-19 world there will be many changes; and with these changes, we must choose options which are the best. In every sector, every industry, there must be opportunity." If the adaptations can be made, Baruah said, every sector can once again revive itself in the ensuing days.

Pradip Purohit, the Vice President of Star Cement says that the priority should be to look towards the livelihood oriented programmes and the people who have been displaced, even within Assam. The biggest challenge, Purohit says, lies in bringing back the displaced worker to his/her workplace.

Prakritish Bora, the Director and HoD of the Exelcare Hospital, believes that the future of the health sector faces immense challenges post COVID. The main problem for the health personnel, Bora says, lies in balancing the risk and safety of seeing patients, especially in the OPD and other areas; he further added sustainability of the private health could be a problematic. Bora further added that the Government must release funds from schemes such as Atal Amrit to sustain the private health sector.

Rahul Deb Sharma, the President of the Northeast Automobile Dealers Association, meanwhile, says that the challenge lies in offsetting the impending damages due to natural disasters. "One thing that the Government needs to look at is that we are at the end of the month of April, but the floods are going to hit us very soon. Already there are reports of swine flu and encephalitis", Sharma said, adding that the Government must invest "big time on disaster management mitigation".

Dr Sunandan Baruah, the Dean of Engineering and Technology of Assam Down Town University says the key to reviving the education sector is in conducting the examinations, while at the same time, maintaining social distancing protocol. Meanwhile, the prospect of holding online examinations is a dicey proposition. The biggest problem, he said, is that many students do not have access to the internet. There has to be better ins

Ashwani Anand, the General Manager of Vivanta, Guwahati, laid emphasis on "concepts" and called upon the Government of Assam to continue with its events to add to the treasury's coffers after the crisis period is over.

Bidyananda Borkakoty, the adviser of North East Tea Association hopes that the Government would allow the workers to once again work with the complete work force (currently, only 50% of the labourers are being allowed). In the activity of plucking, social distancing is always maintained, he said, and added that since 65% of workers are employed in the plucking of leaves, they should be allowed to continue working.

He added, "I am proud to be from an industry where there is no lay-off. The jobs of workers and employees are fully secured. We have paid 70% of wages & salaries for the lockdown period. Tea industry is highly labour intensive - no job cut - paid 70% wages & salaries though there is no inflow of funds. Govt should have complimented us for this. Workers are fully cooperating with us even to the extent of shramdan. But we are getting notices almost every day from Labour and other concerned departments and it is becoming very irritating."

Chinmoy Sharma, the President of the All Assam Cinema Owners Association says that cinema halls should also get benefits like other industries such as deduction of electricity bills, retention of Assam GST, etc. Sharma also said that hall-owners can do renovation with money allotted for the purpose during the "off-time".

At the same time, he laid emphasis on physical well as well as psychological well-being during the lockdown period.

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