Hopeful of recovery, they are aiming for stronger balance sheets

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 23

While a large majority in our country post-pandemic are determined not to sleep empty stomach, 57-year-old Kiran Kanojia, a resident of Pawan Nagar, makes sure that the stray animals are fed and full. Among those who lost their source of livelihood in aftermath of the pandemic, Kiran, who used to earn her living as a dog trainer, found herself dependent on her daughters.

“I live with my youngest daughter, who works at a private hospital. I used to earn around Rs10,000 by training dogs but post-pandemic, I lost that job as well,” she shares. Yet, she sets out every day with a bag full of food and bread for stray animals not just in her locality but wherever she finds one. Kiran had also been a volunteer member of ‘Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals’ and had managed to feed stray animals during the lockdown, without missing a day.

“I manage to get help from volunteers as well. Mostly, I want them to donate food and eatables for animals rather than money. My daughters, too, help me with this. Despite the hardships, I feel that I must do whatever I can to feed them,” she says.

Kiran has been an animal lover since her childhood. “I feel a connection. They need our care and love and it is only humane to feed them. This pandemic has taught us to be more compassionate towards every living being. I used to go door-to-door as well to collect leftovers with which I used to feed these canines. More people need to come forward to help them.”

Hear it from stalwarts

"Mitigating the cost, enhancing confidence among customers, ensuring a high-level of hygiene and sanitation standards will be the new normal. This will remain a part of the hospitality industry for a long time, but it will take us some years to reach the economic level of 2019."—Jitender Pal Sohal, General Manager, Radisson Blu

"The holy city is a pioneer in manufacturing screws. However, only 10 out of the present 200 units are financially capable of switching over to the new technology to meet the quality challenge posed by made-in-China screws. Cold heading machine, each costing Rs 17 lakh, is being imported from Taiwan to mitigate this challenge. We have to technically upgrade ourselves in the constantly changing scenario."— Samir Goyal, an iron and steel industry owner

"Solar sector witnessed a dip at the time of Covid-19 in the initial months of lockdown as all projects were put on hold. But several residents and commercial establishments switched to solar power to save high electricity bills. This year is likely to be promising with good investments in the solar power sector."— Sumit Aggarwal, CEO of the Star Power Distribution Private Ltd

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