The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized an Online Panel Discussion on "Learning from 'Essentials", on 23rd April 2020. The objective of the Panel Discussion was to learn from the essential industries about the best practices of their operations taking care of the health aspects given the unprecedented situation due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mr. Koji Suzuki, Managing Director, Rohto Pharma (India) Pvt. Ltd; Mr. P K Guha, Managing Director & CEO, Zuventus Healthcare; Mr. B B Chatterjee, President, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, President Designate, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Debkumar Basu, Director, Zetadel Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Chairperson, Manufacturing & MSME Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Arnab Basu, Managing Partner -East; Technology Consulting Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd. and Chairperson IT Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Gautam Ray, Executive Director (HR & Admin.), CESC Limited and Chairperson, Energy and Environment Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Senior General Manager, Indofil Industries Limited and Co-Chairperson, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry graced the Session. Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, President Designate, The Bengal Chamber chaired the Session. Mr Sarbajit Das, Founder and CEO, Sun-Dew Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Member, IT Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the Technical Moderator.

The Discussion Forum was commenced with the address by Mr. Deb A Mukherjee. Mr. Mukherjee stated that our daily livelihood and shared existence have been struck in an unprecedented manner due to COVID-19. It is the crucial time for us to evaluate the experiences which we have gathered during the lockdown period and assess how we have responded to the crisis. We can learn that from the essential services which had to adopt and exercise different measures to keep them going. These experiences can also teach us on how to recalibrate the economy in the post Covid period. Effective crisis response strategy and recovery of economy and eco system are the two main challenges we need to overcome. Mr. Mukherjee also stated that in the global geo politics, we must have a wider recovery plan for the world. A global resilience alliance is necessary so that in future such incidents can be dealt firmly. This global partnership is necessary.

Mr. B B Chatterjee emphasized that this pandemic will surely have a staggering impact on economy. It has forced every enterprise to change their course of operation. In the lockdown period enterprises are using digital platforms extensively. It is evident that with the increase in the use of digital platforms, digital adoption and its pace will increase. Sector by sector changes are happening. Change in delivery model is an example of it.

Prof. Dr. Rabin Chakraborty shared his perspectives on how Healthcare Industry is continuing to deliver healthcare services addressing the challenges of COVID-19. Prof. Dr. Chakraborty stated that following COVID -19 phase, the two most important societal worry is adequate food and good health care. The need of the hour is to address the COVID menace and make people educated and aware of the dos and don.ts to follow as they pick up on life after COVID effect by adopting hygiene and care that is for the larger interest of society. General work force in various sectors should practice the use of mask, gloves and maintain comfortable social distancing that will improve consciousness and prevent infection including those working in farm lands. Farmer insurance is a must and community advocacy on safer living and practices are a must to contain COVID. Tele medicine and online consultation by doctors can play a big role for farms based in remote areas.

Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty shared his view on best practices which are being implemented or may be further implemented in Agro industry in the process of agriculture and also in distribution. Mr. Chakraborty mentioned that Agriculture is not an .essential. item but is a necessity for society regardless of any situation. The agricultural sector is different from any other sector because here the policy advocacy becomes very important; primarily because the agricultural sector is largely dependent on Government interventions. The farmers are working in the field where the concept of social distancing does not exist and work from home does not work for Agriculture sector like any other sector. Resources in Agri sector are facing challenges that include man power, machinery, seeds, nutrition, and finance. Challenges in manpower for harvesting , transporting seeds from one location to another is a major hurdle which the Government is trying to address by giving wagons that transport million tones of seeds to other areas.

Mr. Gautam Ray shared his perspectives on how Power Sector is continuing with generation and distribution of power keeping in the purview of the health aspects. Mr. Ray said that during lockdown period, the power sector is running all through the country and serving nation with electricity even within such a crisis situation which is unprecedented and uncertain. Workforce is gradually reduced to 50% and less. The service delivery and breakdown management system of CESC has been largely dependent on virtual interaction, but obviously there will be people in person or a group of persons at the work site and electricity employee are required to move in remote locations for attending breakdowns, when and if it happens. Mr. Ray mentioned that in the existing work procedure the priority aspect of personal hygiene and safe distancing need to be incorporated. CESC is also preparing itself to meet the needs of the hour, once the gradual relaxation of withdrawal of lockdown starts. He also stated that an organization would require innovative technological interventions, not only in terms of IT and OT, but the technological interventions will also be required to manage some of the work, ensure social distancing. Along with it CESC will have to redesign the customer interface process to attain confidence in Post-covid new normal phase mostly depending on virtual platform.

Mr. Arnab Basu addressed on how IT workforce is working at home or may be in some cases at sites being in purview of the health as e-commerce of pharmaceutical aspects given the current pandemic. Mr. Basu emphasized that there is a huge focus on digital adoption which is coming in. A large part of the change in business models and delivery models is enabled by technology. IT industry has been working throughout the lockdown. IT industry has been one of the most adapatable sectors in the shifting to work from home. There are two important aspects . one is IT adoption and the other is what the IT companies are doing during the lockdown. The change management from digital perspectives is also not easy always. IT Industry is a very high wage billed Industry. Work from home will have impact on productivity. Team work including coaching and feedback format, even in informal ways, is not there anymore. Creating the bridges of people connection has to be explored more. Since IT is people intensive industry which is used to working in teams, these are the challenges being confronted now. If attention may be paid appropriately on these, the IT Industry would come out very strong. It is a prospective sector due to the growing trend in digital adoption.

Mr. Koji Suzuki shared his view on how Sasta Sundar is continuing its operations as E-commerce for healthcare essential keeping in purview of the health aspects and given the restrictions in place. Mr. Suzuki stated that people are still struggling with the new normal. During crisis online business is supporting lives as one can stay home and get service. However, due to restrictions there is less attendance of employees. Order is stacking and crossing State borders has been difficult and taking pass has been difficult too. Digital platform is a convenience to life of people during this crisis. But delivery cannot be online. So society should learn new behavioral changes, be hygiene conscious, and behave in larger interest of public and not self. Society and work place have to be safe and this cannot be achieved by one person but together the public can manage to keep society safer through awareness and education.

Mr. Debkumar Basu shared his perspective of MSME Manufacturing of Essential Products (Barrels for Oil and Gas Sector). Mr. Basu addressed that LPG and lube (lubricant) barrels, which are in list of essential commodities. Zetadel is in the business of manufacturing and is also an MSME. This particular sector is going through several challenges. Previously raw materials used to come seamlessly, now it requires to be fetched with much difficulty. Major viability for MSME is lack of demand which is likely to pose a threat in the post Covid period also. With reduced availability of manpower the production line has to be run in parts at different periods of the shift like pre-lunch and post-lunch. Automatically one person has to be engaged in more than one operation leading to multi- tasking & multi-skilling without any compromise with quality which is so important for the product.

Mr. P K Guha addressed on 'Pharmaceutical Industry - from Manufacturing to Market'. Mr. Guha mentioned that various factors and various things have affected the pharmaceutical sector. The sector is not getting the required raw materials. Shipment of goods is problematic right now. Road transport is under severe disruption due to drivers disagreeing to drive. Pharmaceutical companies are managing and learning the new norms. Marketing activities are now digital based. Digital activities will play a major role in the covid period. 20-30% medicines are not available. These drugs must be restored for non-Covid patients. Mr. Guha requested The Bengal Chamber to ask the State Government to allow supply chain operations to go on and provide pass for them so that they can go to different parts with the essential materials.