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After 77 years, Nizam Sugars lays off
Finally, the Nizam Deccan Sugars Limited (NDSL) announced layoff of its factories, situated at Bodhan, Metpally and Medak.
Shutters down for 3 factories; workers & farmers cry foul play
Bodhan: Finally, the Nizam Deccan Sugars Limited (NDSL) announced layoff of its factories, situated at Bodhan, Metpally and Medak. The factory management announced the layoff for the first time in the 77 years of its history. The NDSL management on Tuesday midnight put the layoff notices on the notice boards of three factories, citing some lame excuses for their decision to announce layoff and said that there was paucity of raw material (sugarcane) and water to run the factories.
The NCSF Protection Committee, comprising farmers and labourers, has been staging protests in front of all NDSL factories for the last 36 days, demanding that the Telangana government immediately take over the factory. However, the NDSL management announced the layoff, pushing farmers and workers into hardships. They alleged that the Telangana government had deceived farmers and workers with the help of NDSL management.
The NDSL is a joint venture of the State government and Nizam Deccan Sugar Limited. In this venture, Deccan Sugars has 51 percent of shares and the State government has 49 percent. The workers and farmers alleged that the Telangana government utilised this facility (NDSL’s major share) to announce the layoff.
In all three NDSL factories at Bodhan, Metpally and Medak, there are nearly three thousand regular and casual workers are being employed. With the sudden layoff, they are now left in lurch. The layoff is likely to continue for 45 days to six months and during this period, the workers will receive only half salary.
NDSL union leader Kumara Swamy said according to norms any management should announce the layoff only after consulting the recognised union and workers and also should clarify for how many days layoff stayed put, how they would pay the salaries and the like.
But the NDSL management had not given any assurance to them and stuck the notices at midnight, he alleged. The State government and NDSL management connived with each other and deceived the workers, he alleged. The State government forgot its election promises, he said.
NSF Protection Committee president Srinivas Reddy said the Telangana government forgot its promise that they would take over the factory within hundred days after coming to power. He said NDSL management cited the reasons as non-availability of sugarcane and water, but they were lame excuses because this year the government diverted nearly 1.70 lakh tons of sugarcane from Bodhan, Medak and Metpally factories to crush at private factories.
Reddy also said there was no water scarcity in NSF factories, because the Bodhan NDSL management dug 18 bore-wells after the formation of the joint venture. The NSF Protection Committee has been staging agitations for the last 37 days in front of the factories.
By Shyam Madavedi
