Cracker workers open gruel centres to protest closure of units

The protests, done in a unique way by cooking a gruel, were organised by the left parties-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) at 26 different locations across Sivakasi, Sattur, Srivilliputhur and Vembakottai in the district.

Posters were put up in several places highlighting the plight of the workers, who lost their jobs following the closure. They demanded the immediate reopening of the units.

Stating that the strike by cracker manufacturers entered its 75th day on Saturday, K Senthil, a worker from Sivakasi, said he was struggling to feed his family. “I am not adept at any other job except in manufacturing crackers. It has becomedifficult for me to earn money to meet daily expenses,” he said.

Another worker, Saratha said: “While a daily wage of Rs 400 to Rs 650 is normally given to a construction worker, experienced workers in the cracker industry are paid only Rs 200 per day. Capitalising on the cracker manufacturers strike, who are facing an uncertainty in the production, the experienced workers are paid less.”

Since the production has come to a halt, traders have been restricted from selling crackers which were manufactured last year. Around 2,000 traders are relyingon this industry in the district, Chellappa, a retail trader, said.

The cracker manufacturers were forced to stop production in the wake of the Supreme Court’s order insisting that they produce ‘green crackers’ without the use of barium nitrate, a chemical compound.

Since the manufacturers do not have any alternative to produce the green cracker without barium nitrate, they are unable to continue production, sources said. However, the manufacturers are hoping for a positive development during the next hearing in the Supreme Court on January 22, sources added.