Bathinda, August 22

While the immigration sector has yet to recover after the lockdown, the shadow of Covid still hangs over it. Fearing the expected third wave, students, who are preparing for IELTS, continue to opt for the online mode, which has been a setback for hostels and owners of PG accommodation, who are suffering huge losses. since March of last year.

Due to the craze of settling abroad weighing heavily on the minds of young people, the Ajit Road area in Bathinda had become a hub for IELTS and immigration centers in the southern region. of Malwa over the past five years.

This trend had also led to the proliferation of PG accommodation in the region, but now, with the number of students opting for physical classes, the PG business has been hit hard.

Balram Singh, a resident of the town, said: “I was running a PG in rented accommodation in the Ajit Road area and for two years I had a good business. But because of Covid, the number of students in the region has dropped significantly and I have had to shut down the business for not being able to generate any income in the past few months. Dinesh Sharma, another resident, said he runs a girls’ PG at his house, but as of March of last year it has been vacant and there is uncertainty as to when the situation will improve. – TNS

Fight for survival

With the number of students drastically decreasing in the region, small entrepreneurs running restaurants, stationery stores, gift shops and more have also been affected and are fighting for their survival.