In today’s episode of Jagran New Media’s #NayaBharat series, Jagran HiTech Editor Siddhartha Sharma was joined by CEO, Essar Foundation and Group President, HR, Essar, Kaustubh Sonalkar. During the conversation, the two talked about the impact of the Covid-19 on the industry and the challenges post the Covid-19 period.
Siddhartha Sharma- How has Covid-19 impacted the businesses?
Kaustubh Sonalkar – This is the first time we are witnessing such an epidemic. In such a situation, no one had much experience about how to deal with this situation. But despite this, India faced this challenge in a better way than the rest of the world. This was quite difficult for India, as India has a large population as well as a large area. For a country with such geography, it is quite worthwhile to face an epidemic like this. If you talk about business, then Covid-19 has had an impact on it. Also, many businesses are going completely at a loss. Its clear impact on tourism, aviation, travel business is being seen. Fashion retail business has been the worst hit. But if we look at the positive way, then it has also benefited. Actually Modi ji saw the dream of India becoming a digital India, that dream has been fulfilled to a large extent because of Covid-19. Since Covid-19, we and you have been talking to the electronic medium. India moved rapidly towards work from home. There has been a boom in the acceptance of technology. Covid-19 has not had much impact on companies with essential services like ours.
Siddhartha Sharma – How do you see essential and non-essential under the new business strategy?
Kaustubh Sonalkar- Talking about business strategy in today’s time, now the industry will make its preparations keeping in view the situation like Covid-19. People will try to connect virtually. Cost cutting will also be possible with this.
Siddhartha Sharma- How do you see HR’s role after Covid-19? What type of man force will be hired by HR?
Kaustubh Sonalkar – HR’s role will be on Mental Health. The rest will be the focus on engagement. There will also be a focus on interactions. If we talk about a company like ours, then our business is spread in India also. In such a situation, we would like a workforce that is ready for tomorrow. Meaning the scale of employment of companies will change. Work from home will become a normal. Work from home in India was accepted quite accurately. This will become the normal for the next generation. The contractual employment in the country will increase. People will have the convenience of doing many things at one time.
Siddhartha Sharma – What campaign has been started by your company during the Covid-19 era?
Kaustubh Sonalkar – In the era of Covid-19, we have helped people in many ways without making noise. In Maharashtra, we have worked to deliver food to about 2 million people. Apart from this, food has been delivered to people all over the country including Gujarat. We have provided the medical equipment such as PPE kits, masks. We have mainly helped migrants, trans genders in times of crisis. Along with this, the CM Meal Fund has also helped the states. Sanitary pads were ignored in the Covid-19 era, but we focused on it, because it is an important part of sanitization. We have supplied 5 lakh sanitary pads in Maharashtra. Along with this, we have supplied sanitary pads in Jharkhand and Kashmir.
Siddhartha Sharma – How do you see the new India from the business point of view?
Kaustubh Sonalkar – According to me, whenever there is an epidemic or war situation, the economy remains a little sluggish for the next 6 months. But after this, there is a sudden rise in it. India will be more focused than other countries after this pandemic. A large number of jobs are expected to be created here. Overall, India will benefit in this entire situation. In such a situation, we have to in-cash the next 6 months. Also, we have to prepare a plan for the next 6 months.
Source: jagran.com ( Jagran Business Desk )
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