In extending the lockdown till May 3, PM Modi has rightly given priority to saving lives.

The manufacturing industry in India - like most of the other segments of the economy - has been hit very hard due to the ongoing Covid 19 crisis. Of course, the industry has also shown its humane side by contributing substantially and positively in these difficult times. While the industry is keen to get back to normalcy at the earliest, it has welcomed PM Modi's decision of extending the lockdown till May 3, 2020. The industry certainly understands the logic behind this extension and stands strong with the country in the #WarAgainstCovid19. As Dr. Pawan Goenka, MD, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., has said, ‘it is a difficult decision but the right one'.  "It is up to all of us to ensure that the PM does not have to extend it further. Please follow al rules and discipline of lockdown. Stay Safe," Dr. Goenka added in a tweet. Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, has also supported the PM's move to extend the lockdown, with the topmost priority being the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of our country. "The decision to allow graded relaxation and partial opening of certain areas from April 21st that show improvement is also welcome," Dr Munjal has said. He also added that while continuing to play its role in supporting the government through various means and measures, Corporate India looks forward to a suitable stimulus package from the government that will give a boost to our economy.

Subhrakant Panda, Managing Director, Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA), has also come out in support of the extension. Panda, who is also the Chairman of the National Manufacturing Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), has acknowledged that the extension of the lockdown was necessary as we are at a critical stage of the battle to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. "Hon'ble Prime Minister's focus is rightly on saving lives while allowing a gradual resumption of economic activity," he said. In a statement, FICCI has said that the Indian industry will comply with all the directions given by the Prime Minister with regards to the extension. Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said, "The Prime Minister has been a source of great inspiration for all of us and has coalesced people from all walks of life together in this hour of crisis and we are fighting this war on COVID-19 as a single unit. FICCI fully supports the decision of the Prime Minister that it is in the best interest of the nation to extend the lockdown for some more time and plan for a graded opening up. We feel that the strong and timely measures and an integrated approach taken by the government including the 21-days national lockdown greatly helped in keeping the growth of this pandemic under control. This also explains why India is in a relatively better position today compared to many other countries across the world."

The Machinist too stands with the PM's decision and completely understands that while there is a huge economic implication of this extension, it cannot be put above the lives of our people. That is completely non-negotiable. At the same time, The Machinist urges not just the industry but also the common people to respect and follow the rules and discipline of the lockdown. We are all connected in this puzzle and this chain of events. If we play our role with sincerity, India will surely emerge as the first country to be free from this pandemic and to have business back as usual soon.