GIDC units wary about reopening, finds survey

Surat: The easing of operational curbs on industry by the government does not seem to have translated into the swift revival of their activity in the manufacturing hub of Surat.
According to the survey carried out by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and the notified area authority in the nine industrial estates across the city and district, only 17% of the 3,246 registered industrial units have resumed operations, employing about 20,000 workers.
The survey has found that majority of the industrial units are facing severe shortage of workforce following the mass exodus of migrant workers to their native districts in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha in the last one month.
The units in the GIDCs are mainly into textile manufacturing, chemical units, textile ancillary, engineering etc. Out of the total 2,100 units in Sachin GIDC, only 421 units have been able to restart with less than 30% and giving employment to 5,600 workers. In Pandesara GIDC, out of the total 980 units, only 11 units have been made operational employing about 2,400 workers. At Ichhapore GIDC, out of the 413 units, only 42 units have restarted employing 750 workers. In the Katargam GIDC, out of the 905 units not a single unit has been able to restart.
Regional manager of GIDC, Yogeshsinh Parmar told TOI, “The coronavirus pandemic and the extended lockdown has badly affected the business chain. There are host of issues facing the industrial units in GIDCs including labour shortage, liquidity crisis, raw material procurement, weak demand and business uncertainty.”
“Out of the total 3,246 registered units in the GIDCs, only 550 units have restarted after the government relaxations. The biggest factor behind this is the shortage of workers. About 20 lakh migrant workers have left the city to their home states in the last one-and-half-month,” said chairman of Sachin GIDC notified area authority, Mahendra Ramoliya.