Industry bodies seek lockdown leniency

Coimbatore: Industry bodies here have urged authorities to brief police and officials deployed to enforce Sunday’s complete lockdown to show leniency towards workers.

The state government has exempted industrial units along with essential services from the lockdown and allowed them to carry out operations round-the-clock. Workers have been asked to carry identity cards or permission letters that can be shown to cops and revenue department officials who stop them.

But several people working in micro units don’t have identity cards, said district president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny entrepreneurs (TACT) J James. “We urge the district administration for an alternative solution so that workers going to their units or returning in the early hours are not put to hardship by police,” he said. “There are over 30,000 micro units catering to automobile, pump and wet grinder industries. Workers of the units, who left for their homes after the night shift, were stopped by cops during the lockdown to contain the second wave,” he said.

General manager of District Industries Centre (DIC) Karthigaivasan said that workers of micro units and those doing job works have been asked to carry letters with the letterhead of the unit to convince authorities. “The Coimbatore collector has instructed officials to facilitate industrial activities. Workers engaged in manufacturing, transportation, distribution and construction industry can contact 7823928263 and 7823928262 for support. People in MSME industries can contact 9150093678,” he added.