Kankinara jute mill stops production, workers protest

The workers of the Kankinara Reliance Jute Mill alleged that the authority has decided to stop the production without prior information.

The infuriated workers staged a demonstration in front of the mill on Saturday morning.

The Kankinara jute mill is one of the oldest establishments in Barrackpore industrial belt.

Police said that the mill authority did not inform them about the closure of the mill.

However, some workers’ union leaders informed the police that the authority has already shut its 

shop. Around 4,000 workers are now jobless.

“I learnt that workers were involved in verbal altercation with the mill management on Friday night over the pending dues. We were called up by the mill management. Later, police went there to control the situation,” said a police officer.

“The production has stopped. But we have not issued any notice of suspension of work. The workers should come to the mill,” said an officer of mill management.

Several jute mills have shut its shop recently in Bengal after Central government’s demonetisation drive.

The workers of Sarada Jute Mill blocked the Berhampore-Lalgola State Highway after the mill decided to shut its shop a few weeks ago.

The infuriated workers blocked the road for two hours and demanded the opening of the mill immediately.

The workers saw a sudden closure notice in the morning. Sarada Jute mill workers also then alleged that they were not informed earlier. 

It was a hasty decision of the authority.

It should also be recalled that the workers of a Jute Mill blocked the road at North 24 Parganas Naihati after the authority decided to shut its shop a few weeks ago.

The infuriated workers blocked the road for several hours with the demand to reopen the mill.

The mill owners cited the reason that they could not pay the labourers and workers.

The demonetisation drive by the Centre has left them in a lurch.