Designate officers to issue authorisation letters to key supply chain firms: Centre to states

Dipak K Dash | TNN | Apr 6, 2020, 06:46 IST

NEW DELHI: Centre has urged states to designate nodal officers to issue authorisation letters to companies and organisations having nation-wide supply chain of essential good so they can operate without any hassle.
In a letter to all chief secretaries, Union consumer affairs secretary, Pawan Agarwal has urged the state administration to issue e-passes for employees of such companies. The consumer affairs ministry has developed an e-pass system solution, which states can adopt.
Referring to a recent communication issued by home ministry on allowing drivers to reach to trucks, Agarwal has urged states to facilitate movement of drivers from their homes to trucks.
He has also mentioned the need to allow a truck driver and a helper to move on, if the driver has valid driving licence.
TOI on Thursday had first reported how Centre was preparing frameworks for these reliefs to truck drivers and helpers.
Consumer affairs secretary has also urged states to facilitate ensuring availability of labour in factories, warehouse, transportation and distribution of essential food and groceries by appealing to house owners, societies and villagers to allow workers to go to work, consumer affairs secretary to states.
Shortage of labour for such works has been identified as a major problem. The consumer affairs and food processing ministries are working on a plan to give extra incentives to labour force to carry out essential services after April 14.