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Behind the Smokescreen IV
Sivakasi, a quaint little town in Tamil Nadu, is the biggest home to the fireworks industry. About 80% of India`s fireworks are manufactured here. But also are infamous its various tales of exploitation of labour and health hazards. A price that the people of this town have to pay to light up our Diwali. Zee News `Special Correspondent` Vijay Grover travelled to this hell home to find out the truth and reveal it to you.
Sivakasi, a quaint little town in Tamil Nadu, is the biggest home to the fireworks industry. About 80% of India`s fireworks are manufactured here. But also are infamous its various tales of exploitation of labour and health hazards. A price that the people of this town have to pay to light up our Diwali. Zee News ‘Special Correspondent’ Vijay Grover travelled to this hell home to find out the truth and reveal it to you.
As if the menace of small and large fireworks factories was not enough, a new trend is developing in the Sivakasi. The mushrooming of illegal household units producing fireworks.
Because the salaries of the workers is so depressed that they find it more fruitful to start their own work. Even if it means working in sheds adjoining their homes. Knowing well that one spark from the unit could set their own house on fire! I visited one such unit on the outskirts of Sivakasi. The first thing I noticed was the thatched shed under which Kalai Mohan was busy at work. I wondered if he realised that he was sitting under rich fodder for disaster.
Mohan, however, reasoned out his hand at entreprenuership, “The wages given at the factory are so low that I could not feed my family. So, I started this unit. I agree that it is illegal but I don’t have any option.”
I visited another such house. It was the same story, the same compulsions but a worse tragedy. Busy at work were the nimble fingers of his children. Soon after school, it was more economical to employ them rather than let them play. When parents themselves are exploiting their children, sometimes as young as three years old, then it is very difficult to nail others.
Obviously, the compulsions of the parents must be very pressing. I found that the average family in Sivakasi depends heavily on debts. Due to low wages, the family borrows from financiers who charge large interests. This way a person is caught in a debt trap.
Says Karuppaiah, “I had to borrow money at ten percent interest per month. I am not the only one. There are many like me.” Unable to wriggle out of the situation, the family resorts to several measures including this new method of starting family work units.
It is not that there has been no improvement in Sivakasi over the years. Work done by concerned individuals. NGOs, media, district administration and manufacturers themselves is commendable. But clearly, not enough.
Cosmetic moves, like banning child labour, will not help much. It is the root of the problem that would have to be tackled. Poverty, want and debt would have to be eliminated. Otherwise for years to come, it will just be the same. Our bright, lit up diwali and a dark nights for Sivakasi.
As if the menace of small and large fireworks factories was not enough, a new trend is developing in the Sivakasi. The mushrooming of illegal household units producing fireworks.
Because the salaries of the workers is so depressed that they find it more fruitful to start their own work. Even if it means working in sheds adjoining their homes. Knowing well that one spark from the unit could set their own house on fire! I visited one such unit on the outskirts of Sivakasi. The first thing I noticed was the thatched shed under which Kalai Mohan was busy at work. I wondered if he realised that he was sitting under rich fodder for disaster.
Mohan, however, reasoned out his hand at entreprenuership, “The wages given at the factory are so low that I could not feed my family. So, I started this unit. I agree that it is illegal but I don’t have any option.”
I visited another such house. It was the same story, the same compulsions but a worse tragedy. Busy at work were the nimble fingers of his children. Soon after school, it was more economical to employ them rather than let them play. When parents themselves are exploiting their children, sometimes as young as three years old, then it is very difficult to nail others.
Obviously, the compulsions of the parents must be very pressing. I found that the average family in Sivakasi depends heavily on debts. Due to low wages, the family borrows from financiers who charge large interests. This way a person is caught in a debt trap.
Says Karuppaiah, “I had to borrow money at ten percent interest per month. I am not the only one. There are many like me.” Unable to wriggle out of the situation, the family resorts to several measures including this new method of starting family work units.
It is not that there has been no improvement in Sivakasi over the years. Work done by concerned individuals. NGOs, media, district administration and manufacturers themselves is commendable. But clearly, not enough.
Cosmetic moves, like banning child labour, will not help much. It is the root of the problem that would have to be tackled. Poverty, want and debt would have to be eliminated. Otherwise for years to come, it will just be the same. Our bright, lit up diwali and a dark nights for Sivakasi.