INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A survey by industry body FICCI says that business houses seek greater investment in healthcareThe corporate sector has underlined the
importance of ramping up investments in healthcare infrastructure in tier 2 and tier 3 cities and rural areas, which the Government should
prioritise in order to brace up to any subsequent future wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.Also the Government must take all steps to scale
up vaccination drive in the country, several business houses have opined.These are some of the findings of a survey conducted by industry
body FICCI on nationwide businesses to assess the impact of the state-level lockdowns on them
Many companies have listed five priority areas which need immediate focus of the Government.Apart from strengthening health infrastructure
in small towns and villages, the respondents have sought that maintaining a sufficient pool of essential medicines for pandemic management
and continuing with the newly created temporary facilities, as well as strengthening testing infrastructure and setting up a national
facility for vaccine manufacturing, should form the core of the Government's preparatory work.According to the feedback received in the
survey, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has faced the maximum brunt and there is an immediate need for relief to this
This view was expressed by nearly 65 per cent of the surveyed companies.Among other measures listed by companies for relief, ease of
compliances, moratorium for loan and interest payments and incentives for boosting demand, were the most significant.The survey further
showed that 58 per cent of the companies saw a ‘high impact' on their businesses due to the state level lockdowns
Another 38 per cent reported ‘moderate impact' on their operations due to the state level lockdowns.With different parts of the country
under varying sets of restrictions and consumer sentiment impacted due to the ferocity of the second wave, an evident dip in demand was
Around 58 per cent of the surveyed companies reported ‘weak demand' as the biggest challenge they are facing under the current
