Cold Chain in the times of pandemic hit India
India is in the lockdown due to the ongoing global pandemic. This massive measure was taken by the Government to mitigate the risks of spread of COVID-19.People and businesses all around the world are facing challenges created by the COVID-19 disease. This disruption has created a nagging worry in all the citizens driving them to stock up groceries and other food items. Nonetheless, Cold Chain in India is working round the clock to maintain the demand and supply.
Workplace safety, planned maintenance of inventory & frontline workers are keeping the cold chain moving amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. Cold chain is experiencing few setbacks in these tough times however, striving hard to deliver perishable goods to consumers all across the nation.
- Frozen meat, poultry, eggs and dairy have been particularly in high demand, as well as items like frozen vegetables with a longer shelf life
- Cold chain is playing an important role in ensuring the nation’s food supply. The frontline workers are heroes in this crisis and their health and safety is a top priority for the industry
- Social distancing, sanitization of cold storages and strategic work shifts are protocols being followed diligently to mitigate risks of spread
- Short- term problems are being faced by the cold chain in the transportation of the goods & stocking of grocery stores due to nationwide lockdown
Moreover, when it comes to keeping smooth supply of food items as well as prevent any kind of food shortage, few important steps will help like the Ministry of Home Affairs should immediately direct the states that they should ask the District Magistrates to allow all food processing units to procure their raw material, including packaging material, run their operations at full capacity and move their products across India, without any restrictions. It is not possible for food businesses to obtain curfew passes in each district.The e-way bills generated under GST should be considered as valid curfew passes. The government bodies should also assure local residents that workers in the food processing units pose no threat of COVID-19 to them. The industry should follow best practices of hygiene and social distancingto protect workers from coronavirus.
The lockdown is successfully helping in checking the spread of coronavirusand the economy as well as businesses will be soon on their way to recovery.