R VIMAL KUMAR
TIRUPUR, MAY 12
Stating that social responsibility is severely lacking in Tirupur garment cluster despite the spread of coronavirus second wave, trade unionists, social activists and medical experts have urged the district administration to order immediate closure of garment units in the larger interest of all stakeholders..
“The district administration should order immediate closure of all units in Tirupur garment cluster without allowing the garment manufacturers to operate the units till 6 pm on May 14 and then go for lockdown of their businesses,” said M. Chandran, a prominent trade unionist in Tirupur cluster who is also presently the state vice president of CITU.
He told this Correspondent on Wednesday that the textile unit owners should understand that the closure looked imminent not only for the safety of workers but also for themselves considering the damages done by the speedy transmission of the mutated variants of coronavirus.
On May 11, the garment exporters and representatives of ancillary units announced that they would stop operations from May 14 evening following a discussion with the District Collector and senior officials of different departments.
Severe criticisms had already been pouring in from different quarters for the past few weeks about the manner in which business units, commercial establishments and people in public places were behaving as if they were yet to realise the seriousness of the COVID situation.
“Cases of deaths, and large numbers of COVID patients experiencing ‘Happy hypoxia’ (a condition where blood oxygen levels drop without patient becoming aware), are happening across the country. Sadly for many people, incidences elsewhere are just ‘data’ till they or their family members experience the same,” opined some medical experts.
Blatant violations of Standard Operating Procedures
Garment unit owners have been telling that their units were operated following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) stipulated by the authorities.
“Absolutely not, as gross violations are apparent across the cluster. Mostly, the SOPs remained in papers,” said N Shanmugasundaram, a social activist and president of Nallur Consumer Welfare Association.
Chandran pointed out that demand for immediate closure gains significance only because of the lethargic way in which many of the garments units were run on May 10 and 11 of the lockdown period without the display of any social responsibility.
“There will be no benefit if the units operate till Friday as the workers will still be working in large numbers with most of the units not enforcing SOPs in its letter and spirit and the workforce will only end up carrying the virus home for another super spread among their family members”, he added.
Even this reporter noticed during the past few weeks that many industrial workers, shop owners, and people who go for purchases don’t follow the COVID protocols. Many people had masks at their chins not covering the mouth and nose. Social distancing norms are least followed.
The trade unions had asked the government and businessmen to provide food and medical support to migrant workers even after the units were lockdown.
(The author is a freelancer, former Principal Correspondent of THE HINDU).
