The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : A humane approach to eliminating `unsafe' cracker units

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A humane approach to eliminating `unsafe' cracker units

S. Sundar

Police help workers form society, get bank loans

VIRUDHUNAGAR: : After rehabilitating prohibition offenders, the district police have turned attention to those who run `illegal' cracker units at their homes.

The district, famous for its firecrackers worldwide, is also notorious for `cottage units' functioning in houses in some areas, in which the entire family handles hazardous chemicals, mainly to prepare wicks.

Superintendent of Police S. Jeyachandran has launched an initiative to legalise the unauthorised manufacture of fireworks, getting them licence and bank loans to set up units with safety measures.

Lack of safety

Though officials were raiding these places periodically, the cottage industry had been doing well for 20 years, the police said. Lack of adequate safety measures led to many accidents in the units, including in the licensed ones. Twenty-three persons lost their lives and 15 others were injured in accidents in the last two years alone. At Aruppukottai, four persons were killed when chemicals stored in a house exploded in 2004.

"These poor people, doing this work for livelihood, not only put their life at risk, but also that of others, as some of them carry raw materials and finished products in buses," said an official.

Simultaneous raids

The police, keeping a vigil for quite some time, conducted simultaneous raids at Vijayakarisalkulam, Duraisamipuram, Meenakshipuram, Kalaignar Colony, Keelathayilpatti and T. Ramalingapuram on Tuesday.

It was found that hundreds of families were involved in the "unlicensed" work.

While the police want to put an end to `illegal' and `unsafe' jobs, the people want to continue them for their livelihood.

"I believe that punitive steps alone will not fetch the desired results. Merely arresting them will not be fair, as it means denying them their bread and butter. So we are following this approach," Mr. Jeyachandran said.

Registered society

The police will help the people form a registered society and get bank loans to set up their own units with all safety measures.

"The first society has been formed at Aruppukottai, and the process of getting them licence from the Controller of Explosives is under way. Collector A. Mohammed Aslam has been supportive of our cause, and has promised all help. So are bankers," he said.

A team, led by a sub-inspector, has been formed. "Our role is that of a facilitator." The process would be completed in another three months, he said.

The police have already rehabilitated 100 prohibition offenders of Sundarajapuram, involved in brewing illicit arrack for decades. While many were given bank loans for starting their life afresh, the educated youths were given training to participate in police recruitment.

The police are also conducting weekly mass cleaning programmes in villages and free tuition for students in the adopted villages.

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