Amidst lock-down,  some noticeable fights are functioning between the small players of the micro, small and medium enterprises. My family owns a  Poha (also called Rice Flaks or Puffed Rice) Manufacturing Industry in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. I am currently pursuing my studies albeit I also help my father to run his business. We have a small-scale business. It is to be noted  that Poha is a food product and can be manufactured and sold amid lock-down but we and some other enterprises met with some serious troubles.

Firstly, the news of lock-down knocked us on March 25, 2020. With this the trek on financial losses started in our industry and loss of human lives in the whole economy. It could be seen undoubtedly that the whole economy was plunging with rising retail inflation and people succumbing in the vicious circle. It was a seldom view to observe that all the businessmen of our industry were calm which was representing their support to Honorable Prime Minister. I was also discussing with my father about the impact of this lock-down on our industry. He predicted the occurrence of huge losses in the coming days but we can bear it for some-time as it is for the sake of people’s lives.

After about 20-25 days then my father who is a prominent businessman in the sector proposed other businessmen if they could give an application to the District Collector asking for reopening our industry as it could bolster the demand of food. Making money wasn’t the perspective as Poha price didn’t have much influence of lock-down. Food was really a concern and the state like Madhya Pradesh who loves ‘the breakfast food’ called Poha could help people feed and try to balance the exorbitant demand & price of flour.

Almost after 10-15 days of endeavor,  the collector gave the permission but with a clause that only industries who have labour compartments will be functioning in addition to some protective measures. After appropriate examination by the officials some of the industries were granted permission. There were only 8 factories out of 40 who received the permission as the others lacked labour compartments. Labour compartments are the rooms where labour live in the factory. This will cause least or no movement of the labour from other parts of the city thus eliminating the risk of virus. Everyone started the functioning for the good cause but soon the business politics came into play.

We have a Poha Association in the city where every Poha manufacturer is the member. The other businessmen who didn’t obtain the permission due to lack of facilities in their premises decided that all the manufacturing business related to Poha will remain shut until any further notice (via their voting powers). This may be the actual scenario of other businesses also where a person is trying to help the economy and the people, but profit motives of other businessmen try to pull him behind. Such kind of mindset should change in a secular society like India where with a huge population of 1.33 billion people it is not feasible for the government to reach each and every corner of the country to feed people. Moreover, even it is feasible, it is not possible to get the feedback if everyone received the food.

We are facing huge crisis and at this time of caution we should cooperate with our other stakeholders who are trying to aid, facilitate and help others.

Sincerely,

Avish Bindal