They either die in blasts because of disregard for safety rules at firecracker units or face near-death experience every day because of crushing poverty due to lack of jobs.
After the death of hundreds of workers in explosions nudged authorities to clamp down on firecracker units, at least 135 factories were forced to shut down in three months in Sivakasi and hundreds more were made to slash production due to poor safety standards.
This has rendered thousands of workers jobless. According to Small Cracker Manufacturers Association president G Vinayagamoorthi, around 25,000 workers have lost jobs due to the suspension of cracker unit licences this year alone.
According to sources, there were nearly 1,100 units in Virudhunagar district and after a recent inspection at 300 units, 136 were asked to close down due to violations. With an average of 150 workers employed in each of these units, about two lakh workers were employed in firecracker manufacturing in the district.
Now, thousands of them are staring at a bleak future.
Though the Deepavali season, when workers are in high demand, is only months away, B Sinnaraja Muniyammal (35), a Melapethilvetti resident and an employee of 20 years, lost her job at a cracker unit as the licence was suspended.
"Around this time last year, I was dong additional shifts manufacturing different kinds of crackers. I had a stable income. But now, we are struggling even to buy vegetables for our everyday meals," she lamented. Muniyammal also said that after the cracker unit was sealed, she approached several other units but there were no vacancies.
Villagers of Mathiyasenai which lost 10 people in a recent blast near Sengamalapatti are struggling to find a job amid constant fear for life due to fire accidents.
この記事は The New Indian Express の August 30, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The New Indian Express の August 30, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Agarwal, Pratam give India A edge over India D
HALF-CENTURIES by skipper Mayank Agarwal and Pratam Singh helped India A reach 115 for one in their second innings and extend their hold over India D after second day's play of the Duleep Trophy on Friday.
India train behind closed doors
Hosts put through their paces in first training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai ahead of busy season in the presence of head coach and new support staff
ACT hockey: Favourites India look to continue supremacy over Pakistan
A SEMIFINAL berth already secured, unbeaten India will look to continue the winning run and supremacy over arch-rivals Pakistan in their last round-robin match of the Asian Champions Trophy on Saturday.
Davis Cup: Balaji to do singles duty vs Sweden
FOR the second consecutive Davis Cup tie, India are relying on doubles specialist N Sriram Balaji to do the singles duty with captain Rohit Rajpal on Friday deciding to play him on the opening day of the World Group I contest against Sweden along with Ramkumar Ramanathan.
Forex reserves soar by $5.25 bn to $690 bn
THE forex reserves, best defence against external macroeconomic and financial threats, added $5.248 billion during the week to September 6, nearing the $690 billion mark.
Coal production up by 5.85% to 412 MT in FY25
INDIA'S coal production has increased 5.85% in the fiscal year 2024-25, reaching a provisional figure of 411.62 million tonne (MT) as of September 12, 2024.
Nazara buys 47.7% in PokerBaazi parent Moonshine for ₹982 cr
GAMING and sports media company Nazara Technologies has acquired a 47.7% stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of online poker gaming platform PokerBaazi for 832 crore through a secondary transaction.
Sebi chief, spouse deny Cong claim, mull legal remedy
UNDER fire from the Opposition Congress for over a fortnight now, Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and husband Dhaval have countered the allegations and issued a statement in their personal capacity.
'Realty exposure may be short-sellers' target'
Guv expresses concerns that proliferation of non-bank institutions in fin intermediation may create systemic risks
'Ecom Express used incorrect nos in DRHP'
SOFTBANK-backed logistics firm Delhivery has claimed that IPO-bound Ecom Express has used misleading data about the company in its draft initial public offering prospectus.