Gym or fitness centers are one of the worst sectors during the Pandemic. Fitness is a necessity for physical and mental wellness, is now viewed as a pressing need of the time.

Demand has increased manifold among the common people. But, simultaneously a huge drop in business has left the Gym operators the rising debt has put the operators under financial pressure and the recent decision to continue with the ban has nearly crippled them.  

Gym As A Means For Health

Gyms or fitness centers are no more high-end workout destinations but have become a need. And it is not about fitness alone but, gyms, numbering above 850 in Odisha have become the source of employment for youth as trainers and caretakers.

In the capital city Bhubaneswar alone, about 200 Gyms employ more than two thousand trainers, with an average salary of Rs.25 thousand to 30 thousand rupees per month.

 Health awareness has obviously given a boost to the number of people taking to gyms for fitness and cutting across age barriers. Even the footfalls of elderly men and women have increased who realize that disciplined workouts help in immunity boost as well.

Waves after waves of the pandemic came and may continue but, this sector looks in askance as it has never fallen within the compassion of the government for any interim financial stimulus to survive.

Most of the Gym owners are run by people who are either rooted in that culture or others taking to this as a profession under compulsions. But, financially a very handful of such gym owners are in sound financial condition so that, they can afford to pay remuneration to employees and house rents plus the repayment of bank loans.

“But in phase one and two lockdowns, the entrepreneurs are facing a huge financial loss. Equally, trainers are left jobless. No relief was extended by Govt till now, only left with consolation. In this condition, most of us have decided to close the shutter forever.” Said a gym owner Ashok Pattnaik.

  “Doing exercise with a mask creates respiratory problems which lead to a drop in oxygen level. Imparting tanning by maintaining a six-foot distance was a tough experience. Among all obstacles, we managed to run the operation. But in February 2021 again after six months, the situation turned bad to worse.  

 “We expect support from govt since long. A letter of grievances has been forwarded to PM & CM office under the banner of the Odisha Gym Owners Association. After repeated pursuing, they have not responded to our grievances. Whereas Central & State, govt have extended relief to other sectors citing unemployment.

At least in this grave situation, a minimum financial aid should be provided to us as a gesture of humanity.” said the president of the association.

A Stimulus To Survive

Almost many Gym operators belong to a small or medium financial family. They started the projects with the self-belief to do of its own with hard work & pain. Most of them borrowed money from private sources or banks to procure the infrastructures.  

The ones like the gyms who help breathing life into the people are themselves breathless today. If corporate and banks are given stimulus, why not Gyms?

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