The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Three more weavers die in Sircilla

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Three more weavers die in Sircilla

N. Rahul

Powerloom industry is going through crisis, weavers overworked

One worker hangs himself, two die of illness
18 weavers die in the last one month

— PHOTO: UPPU DAMODAR

Pathetic plight: Wife of weaver Mallaiah weeps inconolably at Sircilla on Wednesday.

SIRCILLA (Karimnagar dt.): Close on the heels of three powerloom weavers committing suicide in Sircilla town four days ago, three more weavers died for various reasons on Wednesday. With this, 18 weavers have lost their lives during the last one month.

Rapalli Mallaiah (65), hanged himself at his house while Davanapalli Gangaram (50) and Mamindla Manohar (55) died of illness in hospitals. All three were residents of B.Y. Nagar.

Mallaiah was a handloom worker, but the other two were employed in powerlooms which were shut down due to lack of adequate work. Family members of Mallaiah said, he had been undergoing treatment for kidney ailment for the last six months and was forced to discontinue work.

He borrowed Rs. 1 lakh to meet his medical treatment expenses and there was no way in which he could repay the debt.

Ill-health

The official figure of suicides during the past one month is only 10, but locals say that eight others like Gangaram and Manohar died of ill-health. Powerloom industry in Sircilla is going through a crisis, so much so, five to six workers are ending their lives every month, according to Sircilla Sub-Inspector of Police S. Upender.

Workers could normally operate four looms simultaneously, but the employers were making them work on eight looms for which they were paid Rs. 100 a day. Moreover, they were made to work night shifts leading to loss of sleep.

A few toddy shops which sold adulterated brew also harmed their health.

Samala Mallesham, president of Powerloom Workers Union, said that the deaths had declined last year as the cloth produced here found a good market. Workers who fell into a debt trap due to ill-health caused by heavy work pressure ended up committing suicide.

Political parties made a beeline to Sircilla whenever deaths of weavers were reported.

Precisely a week after film star and Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi visited the town, three workers committed suicide.

He announced Rs. 25,000 relief to their families and also spoke to them over phone later, but all this was of little help.

The State government gave an ex gratia of Rs. 1.5 lakh to those who committed suicide, and other parties, including the TDP and the TRS, also donated money to the families.

But, Mr. Mallesham said the lure of money was a dangerous portend as it was likely to drive the weavers to commit suicide.

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