Date:11/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051103051900.htm

Back Nellimarla Jute Mill lockout flayed

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, May 10

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Industries (FAPI) has condemned the lockout declared by the Nellimarla Jute Mill management in Vizianagaram district and urged the management to lift it immediately and re-open the mill to rescue the workers. At a press meet here on Wednesday, Mr B.V. Rama Rao, President of FAPI, criticised the management for declaring lockout and said that it was unfortunate that the same management, which was running nine jute factories in West Bengal, was resorting to such reprehensible tactics in Andhra Pradesh. The workers in the mill were being underpaid, he alleged. He said it was also not correct on the part of the workers to elect an outsider as their leader. "Such a move creates a rift between the workers and the management," he said. Predicting a bright future for jute industry in the State, he said the emphasis should be on jute-diversified products. He said the Swarnandhra Jute Mill, of which he is the managing director, would be opened in August this year. It is being set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore at Pydi Bhimavaram in Srikakulam district. A convention is being organised at the mill on Thursday to solve the problems of small and medium enterprises, he said.