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Panel to go into AFT mill issue

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

CARRYING ON THEIR STRUGGLE: The workers of Anglo- French Textiles taking out a rally in Puducherry on Wednesday.

PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Wednesday announced in the Assembly the government’s decision to appoint a two-member committee to go into the entire gamut of issues relating to modernisation of the Anglo-French Textile Mills, productivity, wage hike and anomalies in the dearness allowance.

He made a statement in the House, shortly after Minister for Industry and Electricity V.Vaithilingam concluded his reply to the debate on the demands related to his portfolios.

Mr.Rangasamy said former director of the AFT Mills G. Gnanasambandam and former Commissioner of Commercial Taxes N.Ramadoss would be the members of the panel which would submit its report in three months.

Till the government took a decision on the recommendations of the committee, an interim relief of Rs.1,000 for the skilled workers and Rs.750 for the unskilled workers would be provided, he said.

The workers of the AFT Mills, rallying under a non-union outfit, had been demanding Central Dearness Allowance and pay parity with their counterparts in the Puducherry Cooperative Spinning Mills, he said. As the government would not be able to take decisions offhand on these issues, it had announced the interim relief, he pointed out. The two-member committee would hold discussions with all persons concerned, including the trade union representatives, before finalising its report. Mr.Vaithilingam said the government would make necessary changes in the dearness allowance structure on the basis of the committee’s recommendations so that it would be acceptable to the management staff and the workers.

As members from Karaikal pleaded with the government to announce a similar package for the workers of the Jayaprakash Narain Cooperative Spinning Mills in the region, Mr. Rangasamy said a decision would be taken shortly after holding talks with the workers’ representatives on Wednesday evening.

The Anglo French Textile workers on Wednesday declared a bandh on April 25 to protest the government’s stand on their demand for parity in dearness allowance.

The workers, who have been on rely fast for the last 30 days to press for their demand, announced the bandh during a massive rally that they took out from Marimalai Adigal Salai to St. Ange Street.

Leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Thol. Thirumavalavan addressed the rally.

Earlier speaking to reporters, Mr. Thirumavalavan said it was unfair on the part of government to provide different dearness allowance for the management staff and the employees.

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