Business

India to restart some manufacturing after April 15

A worker (L) carries medical gowns as other workers sew protective clothing at a facility of personal protective equipments manufacturer Nikshe Multiproducts during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

By: Pramod Thomas

India is planning to restart some manufacturing after April 15 to help offset the economic damage of a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

Meanwhile, the country is likely to extend the lockdown until April 30.

Prime minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Tuesday morning.

The 21-day lockdown of India’s more than 1.3 billion people is due to end on Tuesday.

India has 9,152 COVID-19 patients at present and the domestic death toll reached 308, on Monday.

Reports said that Narendra Modi had directed some ministries to come up with plans to open up some crucial industries as the livelihoods of the poor were being hit.

There are reports that the industries ministry has recommended restarting some manufacturing in the autos, textiles, defence, electronics and other sectors.

The operations will be via reduced shifts with lower staff numbers to ensure social distancing.

The home ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office are likely to take a final call on this week.

India’s economy, which was already growing at its slowest pace in six years before the onset of the coronavirus, is set to take a severe hit amid the lockdown, say economists, who warn that unemployment could rise to record levels.