Gym owners and fitness trainers on Wednesday demanded the relaxation of the state’s decision to close all fitness centers due to rise in Covid cases.

The protesters led by the president of gym owners association of Dhanbad, Gautam Tiwari, handed a memorandum to Dhanbad deputy commissioner apprising him about the financial difficulties being faced by them during the pandemic and thus demanded to amend the order regarding closure of gyms. They sought permission for operating gyms with 50% capacity in line with permission given to restaurants.

Tiwari said, “we are the worst sufferer of pandemic and resultant restrictions as we were the last sector which has been given permission to reopen but the government re-imposed the restriction first on us.”

“The financial condition of the majority of gym owners has turned precarious as many who have purchased their equipment by taking loans from banks or finance companies are failing to pay the EMIs and risking the loss of equipment,” said Tiwari.

“A large number of others have not even been able to pay the rent for the last eight months,” he said.

Sonali Roy, operator of a gymnasium for women at Katras said, “we can’t understand the reason for step-motherly treatment to us while hotels, restaurants, markets etc are open.”

“On one hand there are no restrictions in such places where elections are taking place and on the other hand all restrictions are being implemented on such people who are ready to follow the norms,” she said.

“Closure besides affecting the operators like us also affects the livelihood of a large number of people associated with us like trainers, sweepers, peons, security guards etc,” said Roshan Gupta, a Jharia based fitness expert.