Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 15: "No company can declare lockout overnight. Suzlon Energy, which is running the industry here by making use of all the facilities extended by the government, should immediately withdraw the lockout and allow its workers to report for duty. If the company does not fall in line, we know how to take back the land given to it," said district deputy commissioner (DC), Priyanka Mary Francis. She gave this ultimatum to the company thorugh Suzlon plant head, Dakshinamurthy and human resources officer, Philip, at a meeting organized at her office on Tuesday November 14.

Suzlon started its operations in 647 acres of land falling under Palimar gram panchayat in 2006. The production of windmill turbines and blades had been hit since April this year. The company already has sent over 750 workers home but later took back 250. Many of them, who were hired through outsourcing, were removed last month on the pretext of incurring losses. After Karkala assistant superintendent of police, Hrishikesh Sonawale, intervened, an agreement was made to disburse benefits to about 120 contract workers.

After that, a week back, district superintendent of police (SP), Dr Sanjeev M Patil, had brokered an agreement as per which strike by permanent employees of the company had been settled. During discussions, company officials had not given any inkling about the impending declaration of lockout. But in the meeting held in the office of the deputy commissioner, Suzlon officials revealed that they had met special deputy commissioner and labour commissioner a month back to discuss about lockout. This information made the SP agitated.

The company had not intimated the district administration about its decision to declare lockout at 3 am on Tuesday November 14 under section 22 of Industrial Disputes Act, which effectively drove 326 permanent workers and over 200 contract workers of the company to streets. At the same time, on behalf of the company, police complant has been filed, accusing workers of damaging property worth one crore rupees belonging to the company and posing death threat to human resources officer, Philip.

After getting feedback about the lockout from Suzlon officials, labour leaders and people's representatives, the deputy commissioner instructed labour officer, Vishwanath, to send details of the meeting to the government. She also asked both the Suzlon officials to write to their corporate office about the assertion of the district administration to re-appoint all the workers, duly endorsing a copy thereof to the district administration.

In his address, SP, Dr Sanjeev M Patil, said that the district administration stands by the workers. He said that the special economic zone deputy commissioner, who is at Kochi now, will be met by himself and the DC when he comes back. He asked the concerned not to take law into their hands.

Workers continued to raise slogans against Suzlon at its gate since Tuesday morning. Police looked after law and order situation under the leadership of Kaup police circle inspector, Halamurthy Rao, and Padubidri police station in-charge, sub-inspector Basappa.

The meeting held at the office of the DC was attended by labour inspectors, M P Vishwanath, Ramamurthy and Jeevan Kumar, former MLA, Lalaji R Mendon, taluk panchayat member, Dinesh Kotian, Kaup block Congress president, Navinchandra J Shetty, Kaup block BJP president, Prakash Shetty Padebettu, INTUC district president, Ganesh Kotian, BJP leaders, B Mithun R Hegde, Ramakanth Devadiga and other labour leaders.

In the evening, Suzlon officials and labour leaders held another round of talks with labour commissioner from Hassan, Umesh.