Jamshedpur Gym owners and operators demand reopening of their establishments

Jamshedpur, June 23: Hit by lockdown in wake of pandemic COVID-19, gym trainers and operators have demanded the State government to allow them to resume in the city. A delegation on Tuesday met, deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla and handed over a memorandum. Holding posters displaying �Save Gyms, Save Trainers� and �We Are Dying�, the fitness expert said that at the time pandemic it is important for people to stay fit. The government must take steps to reopen the fitness centres.

They said that thousands of workers associated with the field had been hit by the lockdown in Jamshedpur alone. The delegation said that several operators and staff members are reeling under the financial crisis. The administration needs to understand their plight. An owner said that the lockdown had caused more suffering to the families of gym operators than the pandemic. �We will take preventive steps like sanitizing and maintaining social distancing. We will also increase the housekeeping staff to sanitise the equipment,� said Rahul Kumar, a trainer.

Nikesh Singh, an owner of gym at Sakchi said: �It has been three months that they are paying salaries to all the staff members with zero income. We have requested the administration to at least provide some guidelines regarding reopening, we will adhere to the norms given to us.

He said that amid ongoing fear of corona it�s important to open fitness centres and facilities, as exercising helps boost and improve immune system. It is said that COVID-19 profoundly affects people who are suffering through Obesity, Diabetes, and other illnesses, which the Fitness Centres help to control.

Singh further added that though the state government has allowed opening of standalone electronics and telecom shops outside containment zones as a part of Unlock 1.0 since June 1, gyms have been debarred to reopen, causing resentment among owners. The operators have been questioning the logic behind the state government�s move to keep their establishments shut while allowing many other shops selling �non-essentials� to resume business.