THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rehabilitation of bar workers seems to be on the back burner owing to the uncertainties over the fate of bars in the state.
Even as a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy a month ago and a high- level committee headed by the excise commissioner constituted much ahead of that to chalk out the rehabilitation plans, no concrete steps were initiated thereafter.
A top official in the excise department told DC that since there were uncertainties over the fate of the bars owing to the cases pending in the High Court, the government was in no hurry to initiate the rehabilitation plans.
Excise commissioner Anil Xavier also said that no concrete rehabilitation plans had been evolved. “The high-level committee constituted for the purpose would soon meet and discuss various options,” he said.
As the uncertainty continues, the workers of the 418 closed bars were struggling to make both ends meet.
Though the government offered an assistance of '5,000 each to the workers during Onam, the aid reached only around 7,400 workers who were registered with the Abkari Workers Welfare Fund Board or provident fund, whereas trade unions claimed that the actual number of workers in bar hotels was around 50,000.
With another festival season round the corner, the ‘ex-bar workers’ are pinning their hopes on further assistance. However, the government has not yet taken any decision on the matter.
