Chandigarh: As UN General Assembly declared June 3 World Bicycle Day nears, Punjab among many other states is reeling under less workforce after lakhs of migrant workers returned back to their home state amid corona-induced nationwide lockdown, a source said on Tuesday.
According to reports, Asia's one of the largest bicycle manufacturing bodies, United Cycle Parts Mfrs. Association in Ludhiana is facing acute shortage of labour. "Punjab produces around 85 lakhs bicycle every year out of which 48 per cent of orders are received from government's end. Moreover, Ludhiana's cycles are nationwide famous because of which there is always a high demand," a source said.
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"There are thousands of small scale bicycle manufacturing industries across Punjab which gives employment to over six lakhs people. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, labourers have returned back to their home state because of which the Bicycle industry is facing a huge loss," President of United Cycle Parts Mfrs. Association, D. S. Chawla said.
He also said that the demands for cycle has been increasing despite corona outbreak but owing to government's policies, the production is however very low since workforce has come down to half. "If it continues this way, one day we will have to close our business. Government should help us some way," D. S. Chawla added.
