The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bandh total at Valparai

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bandh total at Valparai

Staff Reporter

Plantation workers demand fair wages

VALPARAI: Hundreds of shops, eateries and commercial establishments downed shutters at Valparai and its surrounding areas on Sunday asking the Government to take steps to “improve the economy” of the hill station, particularly by finding an urgent solution to the issue of wages to the estate workers.

Vexed over continuing migration of thousands of workers to the plains from here because of the tardy progress in wage talks, the Federation of Valparai Merchants had called for the bandh under the aegis of `Save Valparai Movement.’

The busy market of Valparai wore a deserted look on Sunday. Except State Trade Corporation buses, no other vehicles plied on the roads. Shops downed shutters at Sholayar Dam, Rottikadai, Mudis and Karumalai villages near here expressing solidarity to the cause. Normal life was hit in the taluk.

“Plantation is the only industry in Valparai and the whole town depends on it. As there is no sign of getting higher wages, poor workers have been leaving the town for the last couple of years. We request the Chief Minister to intervene in the issue,” said Tajudeen, general secretary of the federation.

Terming the agitation a success, Kovai Thangam, MLA, criticised estate managements for their unwillingness to revise wages.

He said that estate workers here have been getting the same wage of Rs. 77 since 1997 and there was no upward revision in the last 10 years.

“Actually the workers are entitled to get a wage of Rs. 125 a day if they were getting annual increments through three-year wage accords. The same managements of plantation firms are giving Rs. 95 a day for the last few years but the managements refused to revise the wage to workers here,” Mr. Thangam said.

The Government’s efforts received a set back following a stay got by tea estates on the functioning of the wages committee, headed by the Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan. Mr. Thangam recalled that the Special Court set up for the purpose a few years ago yet to function.

Stating that the situation was alarming as nearly 50,000 people had left the hill station over the years, the MLA asked the Government to take firm steps against the managements. He warned that the agitations would be intensified if the issue was not settled immediately. He asked the authorities to remove encroachments on 3,500 acres of forest and revenue lands by estate managements around Valparai.

The federation asked the Government to set up industry to generate employment to the local youth.

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