The government’s inaction perplexes the workers
Kanan Devan Hills Plantation company website (Photo: kdhptea.com)
Kochi: Dire economic realities have started staring the striking plantation workers in their eyes, especially those in the Kanan Devan Hills Plantation (KDHP) company and Harrison Malayalam Limited.
The workers in KDHP who started the go-slow protest last month hardly received any salary for the month of September whereas those in HML, who have been on the strike for the last two weeks, have had their salary drastically cut.
“The workers used to buy their provisions for home on credit from the stores in the estates,” said a union leader. “We used to clear the dues in the first week when we get the salaries. Employees in KDHP had to spend the bonus that they got after a hard fight on the dues.”
Workers used to buy utensils or clear old debts with the bonus but that was not possible this time, he rued.
Workers’ children who attend schools in Tamil Nadu used to pay the school fee before 10 every month.
“This may not be possible for most students this month as their parents had no inc-ome,” the trade union leader said.
The government’s inaction perplexes the workers. “The CM and other ministers assur-ed us early action when we met him on October 5 before the plantation labour committee met,” said a representative of Pompilai Orumai women’s movement.
“They included a hike in daily as well as in the productivity-linked wages. But the government has done nothing.
Cops gear up to take on agitators
As the stir by plantation workers and trade unions turned aggressive Thursday with the agitators blocking roads in various parts of the state, the police is gearing up to act tough, unlike the soft stand they maintained last month.
Home minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government could not entertain any protests blocking roads. He also appealed the agitators to keep off from blocking roads until the next round of talks called by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday.
He also said though the government was not issuing any ultimatum to the agitators, the police would take appropriate action as and when needed.
State Doles out 2 weeks free ration to workers
The state government on Thursday decided to provide free ration for two weeks to the plantation workers across the state.
An official release from CM’s office said that the decision to supply free ration had been taken in view of the protracted agitation of plantation of workers which had paralysed the plantation sector.
The government had taken the permission of state election commission for providing free ration in view of the election code of conduct.
Earlier, Opposition leader V.S. Achut-hanandan had urged the CM to supply free ration to agitating plantation workers as the workers had no other option but to continue with their indefinite strike.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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