Mandideep firms implement Dewas model for Covid safety

Bhopal: The health department, along with location district administration, is busy emulating the idea of a Dewas district-like set up wherein, a ‘Covid-19 in-charge’ takes responsibility for health screening of workers.

On Monday, Mandideep industry association supported by Sehore district administration has replicated the same model.

“The pandemic has given us an opportunity to realign our business. Containment zones are effective. We are back to 70% capacity production strength. Mandideep has managed well, compared to other locations,” said association of all industries, Mandideeep, president, Rajeev Agrawal. On the factory side, the number of Covid-19 cases is limited to four, he claimed. The labour population in the area is pegged at 60,000 in 450 industries. Total land allotted is for 750 units.

“We have tied up with the district administration and created a monitoring committee for Covid-19,” he added.

Basic temperature screening, SPO2 monitoring and sensitization of the labourers and their family, about preventive measures has paid dividends in some industrial townships. Some large industries have disinfection tunnels along with use of UVC light that can eliminate the virus on exposed surfaces.

“One person designated as ‘Covid-19 in-charge’ in every industry, who directly communicates with the district administration in Dewas and takes responsibility to ensure security and health screening of each employee on a daily basis. The measures have ensured that 100% of industries are operational in Dewas,” said Dewas district collector, Chandramauli Shukla.

The proactive measures with over 500 Covid-19 tests per day have ensured that only about 5 people are being diagnosed with the infection on a regular basis. About 5% of the 60,000 industry labour population in the district are classified as migrant labour.

“We have been lucky enough not to get seriously infected with Covid-19, even though Dewas is close to Indore and Ujjain. We have been focusing on Unlock more than lockdown,” he added. Dewas has a Covid-19 treatment centre after an MoU was signed with a private medical college. Last week, the district had 50 active cases of Covid-19, a rise attributed to increased testing, a decision that the district administration is not shying away from.

Association of industries Dewas president, Ashok Khandelia said, “Ancillary industries were most impacted by Covid-19. In the recent past, the engineering units have shown a bounce back. After May 15, government permissions are easier to come by. Around 100 units are operating on a 100% capacity and overall 900 odd industries are operating at 70% capacity.” “When government permitted us to operate we had to follow the SOP. In the last four months there is only one factory which went into quarantine after Covid-19 positive cases were diagnosed,” he added.