Raising the flag of protest

Ahead of Independence Day employees of Khadi units seek justice

Khadi gramodyog employees on strike at Vile Parle. -- PHOTO: VIJAY BATE

With Independence Day just two days away, the irony of the occasion is not lost on nearly 400 employees of the Khadi Gramodyog Karmchari Sena (KGKS) at Vile Parle who have been on a hunger strike for the past four days. The staff of KGKS, a leading manufacturer of the tricolour, and the Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) have been on a hunger strike to resolve their pending issues with the Ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

Prakash Padwal, leader of KGKS, said, “Two employees have been hospitalised but the ministry has not responded yet. In the KVIC Act there is no provision of liabilities of our employees including pensioner’s benefits. We want CGHS facilities to be extended to serving and retired employees.”

Another employee said they had forwarded a demand letter to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister on July 8.

“We will not call off the strike until a resolution is passed or our demands are met. This has happened so many times in the past, we will not budge now,” said an employee.

Those sitting on the hunger strike lamented the fact that while Narendra Modi goes around the world promoting the use of khadi , nobody has yet shown any concern about the plight of the employees. Most of the employees who are sitting on the strike are part of the group that is already working on a special target to make and manufacture thousands of special flags for the Independence Day.

Y. K. Baramatikar, Director of administration and HR, KVIC, Mumbai, told

The Hindu that the staff need not threaten fast-unto-death on an occasion like the Independence Day, and all issues can be resolved with a dialogue.

An under secretary of the KVIC Board said, “The issue is related to policy which is already being considered by the management and ministry. Fast until death should be the last resort,” he said.