Lightining strike on Aravana plant earns record income

A lightning strike by daily-wage workers at the Aravana plant and packing unit at Sabarimala on Tuesday partially affected the functioning of the Prasadom unit at Sabarimala.

The workers began their strike at half past noon, demanding a written assurance from Travancore Devaswom Board president M. Rajagopalan Nair that their daily wage would be increased from Rs.250 to Rs.300.

M. Sathishkumar, Devaswom Executive Officer, told The Hindu that he had proposed a revision of the wage and the board had accepted it in principle.

The workers approached Mr. Rajagopalan Nair with the demand. He assured them that the board meeting on Wednesday would approve the revision, and asked them not to go on strike.

However, the workers stuck to their stand that they would resume work only with a written assurance.

Mr. Nair refused to give one, saying that it was not proper on his part to do so without discussing the matter on the board. Shiju, a worker, said that there was no question of continuing the work without the written assurance. Mr. Satheeshkumar said 250 workers had been working at the Aravana plant in three shifts, besides 120 others engaged in work such as packing and shifting of the Aravana cans.

Demands met

He said the board president and members had also agreed to provide free food and accommodation, and hence the strike was unwarranted.

He said the board had managed to run the plant with Devaswom workers on duty at Sabarimala on Tuesday.

It was exploring the possibility of making alternative arrangements to meet the challenge posed by the workers who had abruptly stopped their work, disregarding its negative impact on a national pilgrimage centre such as Sabarimala.