SMC to provide free antigen test kits for industrial workers

Surat: In a major relief to the diamond and textile sectors, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to provide rapid antigen test kits free-of-cost for testing of workers.
The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by mayor Dr Jagdish Patel and municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani in the presence of the industry leaders and the elected representatives on Wednesday. There was an uproar over the notices pasted at the SMC’s health centres in Varachha, Katargam and Ved Road denying rapid antigen testing to the workers employed in the diamond industry.
Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) had called the move discriminatory.
Official sources said that the civic body will be registering the clinical laboratories for the antigen testing in the industrial units. The antigen test kits will be provided by the SMC to the registered laboratories free-of-cost for testing the industrial workers. The units will have to book the testing of their workers with the laboratories and pay the nominal testing charges fixed.
President of SGCCI, Dinesh Navadiya told TOI, “The approved laboratories will visit the units for testing the workers and that they will charge a nominal fee.”
Mayor Dr Jagdish Patel told TOI, “The issue of free testing of industry workers has been resolved. Now, many will be tested in a short time.”