India plans to resume manufacturing from April 15, although lockdown is likely to be extended according to government sources released by Reuters. The lockdown that has been going on for 21 days should end this Tuesday but has a great chance to be extended until the end of the month considering that coronavirus cases are increasing to 9,000 with deaths reaching 308 people as of Monday, April 13.
The source said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIID) along with other relevant ministries to prepare plans for the re-operation of essential industries related to the lives of many people. The government itself is already under pressure when supply running low after three weeks without economic activity which also causing weak liquidity for 1.3 billion residents.
Previously, DPIID collected feedback from industry players over the past week and received recommendations to restart 16 manufacturing segments in India gradually. The industry itself has prepared shifts with a limited number of employees while sanitizing production sites since last week. Also, there are proposals to limit industrial entrances, transportation/accommodation arrangements for workers, and give priority to labour traffic and material resources when production carried out to ensure physical distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
