Survive, revive, thrive: Govt panel’s approach for economic recovery
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s panel for economic recovery from COVID-19 on Wednesday decided to emphasise on revisiting licensing norms, reviving demand and simplifying pandemic-related regulations as an immediate focus to boost businesses. In its first meeting, the committee took a decision to adopt a “survive, revive, thrive” approach to tide over the economic cost of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the viral infection.
According to a government statement, the immediate focus in next three to six months will be on ensuring the survival of businesses and industry sectors by revisiting licensing norms, simplifying COVID related regulations and taking measures to revive demand.
In the medium term, that is the next three years, the committee will focus on revival of the business environment by accelerating pending reforms related to ease of doing business in Delhi, it said.
By opening up early and putting a robust healthcare strategy in place, the Delhi government has set right conditions for economic recovery, said Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission vice-chairman Jasmine Shah who chaired the meeting.
He said, “By working together with industry stakeho
lders, the Delhi government is keen to come out stronger from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The committee for comprehensive analysis and suggestion regarding measures to be initiated by the government to help people and business in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic was formed last week on the recommendations of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal. “At a time when many Indian cities are still oscillating between
locking and unlocking, Delhi’s firm focus on economic revival shows the tremendous progress we have made so far,” Shah said. The meeting was also attended by representatives from trade, industry and restaurant sectors, and senior government officers.
Several industry members expressed the urgency of taking measures to revive demand with specific steps like permitting outdoor sitting and extending hours of operations for restaurants.
Gyanesh Bharti, the commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation highlighted that the civic body has already initiated the process for an automatic extension of all existing licenses issued by local bodies up to March 30, without interest or penalty.