Gurugram: How to resume business operations amid lockdown

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The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses and organisations to close campuses and halt all operations. It all started with the first phase of lockdown when Prime Minister Modi had asked for the cooperation of citizens to combat the virus. But due to the increase in cases and as a measure to prevent community transmission, the Government of India later extended the lockdown.

However, taking into account of the lockdown’s impact on economy, lockdown 2.0 came with certain relaxations. The second phase of the lockdown had multiple advisories associated with it issued by respective industries on how to resume operations after April 20.

Now, in order to help industries in Gurugram to resume operations during the lockdown, the Government of Haryana has sought out ways to help industries in securing passes which are subject to approval from committees set up by the state government.

Several committees comprising officials from the labor department, police, and district administration have been formed to review the applications based on the number of employees and the measures industries will undertake to maintain social distancing.

As per the Govt. of India (GoI) guidelines, select additional activities can be operational in the State. The key contours of guidelines provided by GoI:

  • Demarcation of areas as Containment Zone shall be determined by Health Department, Govt. of Haryana from time to time and will be published on onemapggm.gmda.gov.in and through press intimation.
  • Activities permitted in and outside containment zones will be strictly regulated as per MHA guidelines dated 15.04.2020 (mentioned at the end of the article).

So, if your area does not lie in the Containment Zone then the process for applying for passes include:

For Industries having less than 25 employees:

For Industries having more than 25 employees:

All applications will be scrutinized based on the number of employees: 

  • Private Establishments having 25 or less number of employees shall be scrutinised and approved by the Block Level Committee.
  • Private Establishments having employed more than 25 people but up to 200 people shall be scrutinised and approved by the Committee headed by Add’l DC / Commissioner, Municipal Corporation – MC, as applicable.
  • Private Establishments having employed more than 200 people shall be scrutinised and approved by the Committee headed by DC.

Also, clarifications have been made on the opening of other small businesses run by self employed individuals:

  • It is clarified that opening of shops / dhabas on highways/movement of Self-Employed individuals shall be strictly governed by MHA guidelines, and will be regulated by the Block / Town / City level Committee, as applicable, outside of this mechanism in consultation with Department of Labour by strictly adhering to the containment zone restrictions issued by MHA guidelines.
  • In view of the approaching summer season and new academic session, distribution of books by book shops to school and college students and sale of Air Conditioners, Air coolers, Fans and their repair shops may be treated as essential goods / services and allowed to remain open and operate outside containment zone.

V S Kundu, Chief secretary and GMDA Chief said to the media, “Industries have to apply for passes and if they get the permission, they can start functioning. But they will have to strictly comply with social distancing norms.”

Here’s a list of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for workplaces which should be adhered by all offices, factories and other establishments across the country:

  • All areas in the premises including the following shall be disinfected completely using user-friendly disinfectant mediums:
    • Entrance Gate of building, office, etc.
    • Cafeteria and canteens.
    • Meeting room, Conference halls/ open areas available verandah/ entrance gate of the site, bunkers, portacabins, building, etc.
    • Equipment and lifts.
    • Washroom, toilet, sink; water points, etc.
    • Walls/ all other surfaces
  • For workers coming from outside, special transportation facilities will be arranged without any dependency on the public transport system. These vehicles should be allowed to work only with 30-40% passenger capacity.
  • All vehicles and machinery entering the premises should be disinfected by spray mandatorily.
  • Mandatory thermal scanning of everyone entering and exiting the workplace to be done.
  • Medical insurance for the workers to be made mandatory.
  • Provision for hand wash & sanitizer preferably with a touch-free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas.
  • Sufficient quantities of all the items should be available.
  • Workplaces shall have a gap of one hour between shifts and will stagger the lunch breaks of staff, to ensure social distancing.
  • Large gatherings or meetings of 10 or more people to be discouraged.
  • Seating at least six feet away from others on job sites and in gatherings, meetings and training sessions.
  • Not more than 2/4 persons (depending on size) will be allowed to travel in lifts or hoists.
  • The use of the staircase for climbing should be encouraged.
  • There should be a strict ban on gutka, tobacco, etc. and spitting in public should be strictly prohibited.
  • There should be a total ban on non-essential visitors at sites.
  • Hospitals/clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorized to treat COVID-19 patients, should be identified and a list should be available at the workplace all the time.

Recently, there have been predictions that the coronavirus epidemic could peak in India by the middle of May and gradually peter out after that, a modelling exercise by Times Network in partnership with global consulting firm Protiviti has said, according to a media report.

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