Nagpur: Severely hit by the
Covid lockdown last year followed by strict restrictions this year, a delegation of
Gym Owners’ Association met guardian
minister Nitin Raut on Wednesday with a demand to allow reopening of their establishments as early as possible.
Gyms, which had been shut for most part of the last year, were opened for a brief period in October only to be closed again from March 15 due to rising Covid-19 cases in the city.
The
gym owners, led by
All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and social worker Kunda Raut, submitted a
memorandum to the minister at the divisional commissioner’s office.
“Most of these youths are certified gym trainers and have taken loans to start the gyms. Many of them also have the
EMIs pending. Like doctors, these trainers are also Covid warriors as they help people remain fit, build immunity, reduce blood pressure and control diabetes etc,” said the AICC member.
Gym owner Kuldeep Chikane said, “We’re following all protocols and guidelines issued by the government from the day we were given the go ahead to start gyms after almost a seven-month-long national lockdown.”
Another gym owner Rajesh Ghodmare said if not allowed to reopen now, we will not be able to service the loans availed for purchasing the instruments. “We don’t have any other source of income. We somehow managed during the seven-month lockdown, but now all our savings have exhausted. The government should at least grant some concessions in taxes for the gym owners considering the pandemic situation. It would be extremely difficult to survive if another lockdown is imposed,” he told TOI.
While accepting the memorandum, Raut said he understands the hardships being faced by the gym owners. He assured the delegation that there would be a new standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the central government, which the state would study and take a call.