Firms not getting PPE kit orders

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, May 27

While there is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits in the country, a number of manufacturing units approved for producing the kits in Punjab are not getting orders.

Around 35 per cent of PPE kit production capacity in the state is yet to be utilised. Also, the number of manufacturing units getting approval for production of PPE kits is rising and in the past seven days, 35 manufacturing units were approved and certified by the South India Textile Research Association and Defence Research and Development Organisation to manufacture PPE kits. The producers in Punjab are not getting orders. Against the production capacity of 4,38,700 kits per day, the demand is for only 2,81,400 units.

To deal with the problem, Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora has written to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to allow export of PPE kits so that the industry may operate to the fullest. He has also written letters to CMs of all states urging them to order PPE kits from Punjab. Interestingly, while letters of the minister are yet to draw a response from states and the Centre, the number of manufacturing units in Punjab approved for producing PPE kits has increased.

“If the Centre allows us to export PPE kits, it will not only be beneficial for units, but will also help the economy grow. We are hopeful of positive results,” Arora said.