Odisha To Draw Up A Special Policy For Industries Affected By COVID

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will draw up a special policy for the industries affected by COVID pandemic in the state.

This was revealed during a visit of secretary (5T) to chief minister VK Pandian to industrial estates in Odisha’s Khurda district on Tuesday. On the instructions of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Pandian visited Khurda Industrial Park, Food Park, IID Khurda and Jaymangal Industrial Park and discussed various problems of industrialists, employees and local people, according to a release from chief minister’s office.

Following the meeting, Pandian advised the Industry Department and the district collector to solve the problems within 3 months. About 50 small and medium enterprises and their union workers participated in the discussion. Various issues including electricity and water supply, parking space for trucks, hostels for workers, traffic management, waste management and security system were discussed.

It was decided that hostels will be constructed for accommodation of 2,000-3,000 workers in each industrial estate.

Since several industries sustained loss during the COVID pandemic, Pandian said the government will bring a special policy for them with a focus on employment of local people.

During his visit to Jayamangal Industrial Estate, Pandian interacted with engineering and management graduates who had left their jobs during the epidemic. He assured them of the government’s help to enable them to set up their own enterprises.

Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary of Industries Department and Khurda Collector participated in the discussion.