Losing Ground

With the Centre deciding against renewing leases of salt pan lands, the future of the traditional industry is under a cloud

- Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

Till about a year ago, clouds used to bring tears to their eyes and the sun was their best friend. For salt pan owners, a bright, sunny, even hot day meant enough heat for evaporation, leaving behind sparkling white crystals of salt. But after the non-renewal of leases by the Central government for their lands, it’s as if cloudy skies have come to stay.

Muthukumar (name changed), a fourth-generation owner-coworker of a one-acre salt pan, said that for the past year he has been without work. “I have been working in this pan from when I learned the ropes from my father. I have not studied much and don’t know any other trade for me to switch to. I have three school-going children and now do not want to work as a laborer on any other pan,” he added.

This is the state of hundreds of small lessees, who worked on salt pans on lands belonging to the Central government. “Those who could afford it have gone to court and obtained a stay. Those who could not, have just been forced to stop working on their lands and are out of jobs. We can only request that the Centre understand the pain of salt pan lessees and extend our leases,” said M.E. Varadhan, Mahatma Gandhi Salt Pan Owners and Lessees Association, Marakanam.

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