With Unlock 1.0, RTAs and AMCs have opened their offices with safety precautions and minimal staff. However, RTAs and AMCs have reopened their branch offices in green and orange zones and decided to wait for some more time to open all their offices across the country.
Srikanth Tanikella, COO, CAMS said the RTA has opened offices in most parts of the country. He said, “As Chennai delivery centre is still in the red zone, a significant portion of our employees have been working from home. However, a few employees who are attending office are provided with company transport with all safety protocols. In addition, we have distributed a personal health kit with 2 reusable masks, 10 tablets of Vitamin C & Zinc, Kabasura Kudineer health mix and sanitizer to our employees.”
He further said that his company has reopened 250 point of sales centres across the country in green and orange zones. These offices have deployed necessary measures to ensure the safety of employees, distributors and investors.
Mario Sylvester Rocher, VP & Head - Branch Operations at KFinTech says that of the total 203 branch offices of KFinTech, his company has reopened 170 branch offices. “Keeping in mind the requirement of distributors in B30 cities who do not rely on technology platform, we have reopened our offices in these locations to enable physical forms.”
He said that his company runs two shifts to maintain social distancing norms. Also, many staff members have been working on rotation basis to ensure safety and smooth functioning of day to day operation.
Akhil Chaturvedi, Head-Sales & Distribution, Motilal Oswal MF says that his fund house has reopened 6 branch offices in green zones. “Of the total 33 branch office across the country, we have reopened only 6 branch offices since we do not want to take unnecessary risks. In addition, we have become far more comfortable working digitally even from remote locations. In fact, we have asked our employees working in orange, red and containment zones to continue to work from home and stay safe,” he added.
Gaurab Parija, Head - Sales & Marketing at IDFC MF says his fund house has reopened just 5 offices in green and orange zones of the total 41 branch offices. He said, “In these offices, employees who have their own vehicles are allowed to come to office. These offices are equipped with thermal scanner, sanitizer dispensers and so on to ensure safety of our employees.”
Parija further said that his company will continue to encourage work from home practices in most parts of the country. He said, “Over the last couple of days, coronavirus cases have increased drastically. In such a scenario, we cannot open offices and risk lives of our employees.”
Aniruddha Chaudhuri - Head Retail Business at ICICI MF says that the fund house has reopened 130 branch offices out of 220. “We have reopened our branch offices in green and orange zones with all necessary safety precautions,” he added.
Deepak Jain, Head-Sales, Edelweiss AMC says that his fund house will continue to follow work from home till the situation returns to normal in large cities. He said, “While we have resumed work from office is in less affected cities, we have asked employees to work from home especially in large cities where coronavirus cases are high. In addition, we have sanitized entire office space for better hygiene and rearranged office set up to maintain social distancing.”
Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO Nippon India MF told Cafemutual his fund house will not resume office in the near future. “We will remain watchful of the situation before taking any decision. It is better to stay at home and continue to work from home.”
