Assam: Gym sector faces lockdown blues as owners are forced to shut shop

Ever since the first lockdown was announced the state government and later the National lockdown by the centre, the country has seen economic activity get hit in unprecedented levels. Among them, the gym economy has taken a heavy beating pan-India as well as in Assam.

In Assam too the owners are unable to pay rents to demanding landlords and have also failed to pay salaries to trainers and support staff after the first month or so.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, Punya Swargiary of Efficient Fitness Gym said, "the owners threatening us to pay rent or free up space". Purna is himself trainer cum owner and has struggled to pay money to the landlords. Out of frustration, he said, "can we give money to the staff as we are somehow managing to pay the landlord". He is also disillusioned with the state government for not looking after the gym sector.

Although the Centre has allowed gyms to function again by maintaining SOPs the Assam government has said to maintain status quo till August 15, which means a partial lockdown with restrictions. "Even if they open up the gyms with the unlock 3, the customer confidence is low. 30% will come as most students have left Guwahati and very few others will come. Other gyms like Biofit has been sold, gyms in Chandmari are looking for the owner", said Purna. He believes that Govt has not paid any attention to the sector due to a lack of representation. "We don't have a proper grouping and that's why cant pressure even though we are looking for protest?", said Purna.

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To understand the organised side of things, Inside Northeast spoke to Achyut Kalita, General Secretary of Assam Gym Owner's Association and owner of The Raw Gym Chain. Kalita has 3 gym outlets in Guwahati. "The government gave no info regarding how to facilitate room rent to owners. Through our organisation, we tried to contact Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM Sarbananda Sonowal but so far we have not received any positive response. The owners are pressurising us to evict and I think there will be episodes of violence between the owners and tenants if this goes on. At least the govt should waive the room rent", said Kalita.

Regarding the issue of paying up, "We basically have no income and our staff is asking salary. We have to pay not just the trainer but housekeeper and other staff but the owners have no revenue".

Assam has about 10,000+ gyms and in that, about 2 lakh people are associated. The supplement industry is also connected with the gym trade and cosmetic protein is an important part of bodybuilding. In that, they have managers, MRs and other associates. Another problem for the supplement industry has been the expiry of their products which have led to heavy losses. Inside Northeast spoke to Saju of Health Fitness Store. "Business is bad as we are dependent on the gyms. I have nothing to say and total loss for words as we are more than 4 months we are under lockdown".

The aforementioned Gym Association grouping has intensified their activities ever since the lockdown aftermath. They plan to wait out this month hoping the state government open up the gyms. "Even though they open up the gyms, we need compensation for the last 5 months. Our business is ruined and this is the last stage. They should have intervened beforehand", said Achyut Kalita. He also raises two key issues: one the gym economy is dominated by local players majorly who have found fitness as a way of life and occupation that has helped them stay away from addiction and substance abuse. The second is the need to form organisations and unions.

"Earlier because of internal rivalry and because we were independent, the need to unionise was not there. But, now the situation has gone worse. The trainers cant even buy groceries and failing EMIs have only pressurised them. They have not been able to pay the rent and they don't have that level of savings to sustain them for the long haul. They cant eat even properly to maintain their body and in a time like this, how can they shift to some sector for work?"

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