Mahesh G., who once worked as a printer in Tumkur district Government Printing Press, has been working as a peon in a small shop in the city ever since the press closed down in 2009. “Even milk is a luxury for my family now,” says Mr. Mahesh, whose salary has shrunk by a third. This is not an isolated case, but the plight of over 100 skilled workers — printers and book binders — after the press shut shop.
Many of the workers were trained by the government and were with the unit since it started in 2000.
They now work as construction workers, hamalis and peons to eke out a living. In 2008-09, 1.68 crore textbooks were printed at this unit and in the first of quarter of 2009-10 alone, 25 lakh textbooks rolled out before closure that year. The press at Antharasanahalli in Tumkur started with 140 workers appointed on piecework basis, and 80 permanent employees.
It was closed on the basis of a “false report” given by the Director of Department of Printing, Stationery and Publications, on the condition of the machinery, according to T. Somashekar, Tumkur district Government Printing Press Workers’ Union. Mr. Somashekar is working as a construction worker now.
The workers want their jobs back. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra told The Hindu the government will take steps to absorb the employees at Peenya and Mysore units.
