Gym owners in Jalandhar threaten to intensify their protest

Jalandhar, June 2

Eight days after organising a silent protest at the Bhagat Singh Chowk, people working in the gym and fitness industry again hit the road to highlight collapse of the industry in the city. Holding placards, members of the ‘Jalandhar Gym and Sports Association’ held two different protests at the PAP Chowk and the Guru Nanak Mission Chowk on Wednesday.

Aarti Rajput, general secretary of the association, said, “The fitness industry has been facing a huge slump since the Covid-19 outbreak. What makes it worse is keeping it shut for the longest time, even when shop selling non-essential items have been allowed to reopen. It has been over two months since the fitness centres are lying closed. With negligible income, we are being forced to sell our valuable items such as jewellery as well as vehicles to keep the hearths running at our home. Tensions have escalated after a gym owner tried to commit suicide. A gym trainer has already lost his life in Ludhiana. Therefore, if the government is keeping the gyms closed, then it should also make efforts to waive hefty electricity bills and rent.”

Nearly 40-50 association members protesting against the curbs at the PAP Chowk said, from liquor vends to salons and barbershops, everything has been allowed to reopen, but why were they being kept out of the rules. March-September is considered to be the seasonal period for the fitness industry, however, due to the lockdown curbs, the gym owners couldn’t earn much. The staff also remained out of salary for months. The protestors said, last year too, they suffered huge losses due to the restrictions.

“Even restaurants and shopping malls are open, but the government is delaying reopening of gyms. The lockdown has pushed owners of over 1,500 fitness centres and gyms towards financial crisis,” said, AP Singh, vice-president of the association.

On being singled out in the relaxations, trainers and gym owners threatened to intensify their protest after June 10, if the gyms were not allowed to open. They also stated that they would also force the government to also shut liquor shops across the state. Aarti further added that the protests were observed today in almost all districts of the state. — TNS