Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010253520300.htm

Kerala - Pathanamthitta

Aravana production not hit by strike

Staff Reporter

Buffer stock exceeds 10.5 lakh cans, says K. Jayakumar

Inside the plant: A view of the aravana plant at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar, chairman of the high-power committee on Sabarimala appointed by the Kerala High Court, says that the strike by daily-wage workers at the aravana plant at Sabarimala has not affected ‘aravana’ production as the workers who took part in the strike are attached to the packing section.

Terming the strike unfortunate, Mr. Jayakumar said it was owing to some false information received by the workers on the daily wage revision. He said the committee had recommended a wage revision on its own and not on the basis of any demand put forth by the workers.

He said the administrative officer at Sabarimala would act as the labour welfare officer at the Sannidhanam till an official with independent charge was posted there during the Makaravilakku festival.

Mr. Jayakumar said the strike had not affected ‘aravana’ production as the workers who took part in the strike were attached to the packing section.

He said the buffer stock of ‘aravana’ exceeded 10.5 lakh cans and that of ‘appam’ 4.5 lakh packets as on Thursday morning.

The committee would discuss the circumstances leading to the workers’ strike at its meeting on Monday, he said.

Fleecing of pilgrims

Mr. Jayakumar said effective steps would be taken to check fleecing of pilgrims on the Karimala path soon.

He said he would discuss the issue with Idukki District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh, the district police authority and the Forest authority concerned at a meeting on Saturday.

‘Annadanam’

The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom has launched round-the-clock free food service at its ‘annadana mandapam’ at the Sannidhanam.

Special Commissioner M. Rajendran Nair inaugurated the ‘annadanam’ at a function presided over by the Sanghom general secretary N. Sreenivasan.

Pilgrim dies

A 75-year-old pilgrim identified as Tholamarachetty Durgamma of South Jail Road, Visakhapatnam, died of heart attack at the government dispensary at Sannidhanam. The body was shifted to Pampa.