Over 60% units in Maharashtra resume production

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation chief executive officer P Anbalagan on Wednesday said the state’s Mission Begin Again programme has resulted in production resuming at more than 60% of industrial units across the state.
“After the un-lockdown, most industrial units are on fast track. Some units have not been able to resume owing to their own internal issues of a minor nature. I am sure most issues will be resolved soon,’’ Anbalgan said.
According to MIDC data, 84,019 units are self-certified as fit to resume work, while 64,000 of them, with a total workforce of 15.61 lakh, have gone into production. “Now permissions are more voluntary with no mandate, people can start the business on their own,” he said. At the beginning of last month, 54,678 units with a total workforce of 13.82 lakh, were in production.
Labour Commissioner Mahendra Kalyankar said attendance in factories registered under the Factories Act has increased considerably. Against 8,559 units in production with a total workforce of 5.13 lakh on June 2, on July 1, 11,085 factories had resumed production, with a total workforce of 6.27 lakh.
Former industries secretary Vineet Jairath said, depending on the Covid-19 situation, it may take six to nine months for all industrial units to return to normalcy. “If we are able to contain the pandemic, then I think we will be able to achieve normalcy in next six to nine months,’’ Jairath said.
Jairath pointed out that acute shortage of workers and poor demand is the main cause of delay for units keen to resume production. “A large number of labourers have migrated to their home states. Further, demand for a large number of products has reduced drastically,” he said.
Jairath said the sudden slowdown in manufacturing has added to the woes of even small businessmen. “Problems of each sector are different. Revival of certain sectors will be fast, in other areas, it will be slow,’’ he said.