Fears of economic hit and job losses as lockdown 2.0 looms

Though Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided to dilute restrictions under lockdown 20 to keep the wheels of the economy rolling ruling party politicians expressed fears of economic and job losses The political class fears that the restrictions even though not as harsh as the previous lockdown may end up feeling like a total lockdown Some leaders from the ruling parties said that it would result in job losses and adversely impact the economyPrithviraj Chavan CongressAccording to the CMrsquos directive the primary thrust would be on preventing crowds with places of gathering to be targeted Sources in the government said that the Standard Operating Procedures SOP for the lockdownlike restrictions would be made public by this weekendAt present assembly of more than five people is not allowed between 8 pm and 7 am Restaurants malls multiplexes auditoriums beaches gardens are not allowed to operate after 8 pm Commercial establishments fear more losses if they are shut 24X7 under revised restrictionsPrithviraj complements BJPrsquos standA day after state BJP president Chandrakant Patil said that the government should give the distressed unorganised workforce monthly financial assistance of R5000 per person former CM and Congress legislator Prithviraj Chavan demanded that people be compensated for the lost wages during the second lockdown if imposed ldquoLike western countries the government should directly transfer money to the bank accounts of the beneficiariesrdquo Chavan said in a statementldquoThe administration medical experts industry captains and common people have a difference of opinion on the imposition of the lockdown It is reassuring that the industrialists and medical experts in Maharashtra express their opinion fearlessly but the government faces a dilemma Certain things should be considered if the lockdown is necessitatedrdquo added ChavanAn empty Nana Chowk last week amid night curfew PicBipin KokateChavan said that the lockdown should not be prolonged that people must be informed about it in advance that the supply chain of agriculture produce and industrial material raw material and processed goods should not be impacted and that the vaccination drive should be intensifiedAccording to Chavan last yearrsquos lsquounplannedrsquo lockdown hit the national economy hard and over three crore people were pushed below the poverty line ldquoPeople should be taken into confidence and minimum damage to the economy must be ensuredrdquo he saidState Congress president Nana Patole was for a night curfew but a total lockdown he said would ruin the peoplersquos lives further His party colleague and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said the government didnrsquot want to impose a lockdown but it would be left with no option if the COVID situation worsenedNationalist Congress Party NCP leaders spoke in different voices Partyrsquos spokesperson Nawab Malik opposed the lockdown but the state NCP president said it was his personal opinion Health Minister Rajesh Tope advocated the lockdown if the resources to support patients fall short He added that it was up to the people to cooperate with mitigation efforts by following protocolsMumbai suburban Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh said if people didnrsquot adhere to rules and regulations restrictions that are now in place in the night hours would be applied throughout the dayRs 5000Monthly financial assistance demanded by the BJP for the unorganised workforce