Ministers resolve decade-old jute mill problem at Chittivalasa

Visakhapatnam: The State government claimed to have solved the problem faced by the workers of the locked out Chittivalasa Jute Mill. Labour Minister G Jayaram and Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao have said the decade-old problem faced by the workers of the jute mill came to an end.

The Ministers, in the presence of District Collector V Vinay Chand held a meeting with mill management and workers unions here on Tuesday where it was decided that the gratuity, fixed deposits, bonus, leave salary, etc, payable for the regular employees would be paid for five-and-a-half months and every apprentice would get Rs.10,000 which involves a financial outlay of Rs.23 crore to be paid within a year.

As suggested by the Labour Minister Jayaram, it was then decided that the 50% of the due amount would be paid in the first six months and the rest in the next six months for which the mill management also agreed.

Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism Minister said the lock out of the mill had resulted in dead lock for the 10 years and the people were experiencing problems in his constituency due to the same. The issue did not make any headway during the TDP regime.

However, Srinivasa Rao said, the YSRCP government, within a month of coming to power, resolved the issue in an amicable manner between the management and the workers. Srinivasa Rao said the State government was in favour of the workers and solving the issue indicates the commitment of the Chief Minister. As many as 6,500 workers would benefit from the pact, he added.