MSMEs in Karnataka Urged Support for Local Administration Amid Lockdown

As the Karnataka government announced curfew across the state in the wake of COVID-19, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) urged the latter to allow the buses to and from industrial hubs.

Citing that a large percentage of factory workers rely on public transport to commute, Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) president KB Arasappa, on Tuesday, appealed to the government to allow BMTC buses to ply at least to and from industrial hubs in the state.

He also appealed to the government to permit the supply of oxygen to the industrial sector to the extent possible.

KASSIA also assured total cooperation with the state government by encouraging all industries in the MSME sector to comply with COVID-19 guidelines and help the government arrest the surge in the number of COVID cases and restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) president Perikal M Sundar expressed his dissatisfaction over the government's decision to impose curfew as B S Yediyurappa led Karnataka government didn't hold any consultations with stakeholders.

''Shocked by the government’s decision to impose ‘corona curfew’ without holding consultations with stakeholders. However, if the government is allowing industries to operate, but if they do not operate transport corporation buses, how will employees commute to work?” he asked.