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Chittivalasa jute mill at Tagarapuvalasa in Visakhapatnam district - one of the oldest composite jute mills in Andhra Pradesh - has remained closed for over five years, and the prospects of re-opening appear remote, but still the workers are hoping that the mill may be re-opened. More than 5,000 workers are dependent on the mill which was closed on April 20, 2009. The management declared a lockout owing to resistance from workers for reducing the number of shifts from three to two, citing power problems.
The mill, with a capacity of 100 tonnes a day, used to employ 2,800 permanent workers, 800 badili workers and 2,000 apprentices. Tagarapuvalasa, a small town, and ten to fifteen villages in the vicinity used to provide the workforce. Now the workers are seeking employment in different fields. Some of them are going to other jute mills in the neighbouring Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Many are employed in odd, badly-paid jobs in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. The only saving grace is that many workers are still residing in the staff quarters. "We are paying the power bills. Therefore, power connection to staff quarters is not cut," said a worker.
Several attempts were made to get the mill re-opened during the past five years, but to no avail. The undivided AP Government even issued a GO declaring the lockout illegal and directing the management, the Kolkata-based K.K Bajoria group, to re-open the mill. However, the management moved the AP High Court and obtained a stay on the GO. Subsequently, the labour department got the stay vacated, but even then the mill could not be re-opened.
At present, even the power connection to the mill is cut and only the security staffs are attending to duties. "We have not given up efforts to get the mill re-opened and we are still hopeful. The attitude of the management is most unfortunate and we will continue our struggle to secure for the workers their due," said Ch. Varahala Raju, the president of the INTUC-affiliated Chittivalasa Jute Mill Workers' Union.
He said the union would urge the new Government in AP to exert pressure on the management to re-open the mill.
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