On May 22, 2011, the fact finding team established by the Committee of concerned citizen-students and youth on the suicides of textile workers in the Tirupur district in Tamil Nadu presented and discussed their report among human rights activists, political activists and social activists in New Delhi.
On May 22, 2011, the fact finding team established by the Committee of concerned citizen-students and youth on the suicides of textile workers in the Tirupur district in Tamil Nadu presented and discussed their report among human rights activists, political activists and social activists in New Delhi. Activists of Communist Ghadar Party of India and Mazdoor Ekta Committee participated and spoke in the discussion.
According to the report, in the last 2 years around 800 workers have committed suicide in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. These workers have committed suicide, unable to cope with the inhuman work conditions. These workers have to work 12-12 hours under contractors. Contractors bring these workers from states like Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. They are made to stay in dormitories. They are not given ESI and PF. These workers are not members of any unions and neither are they allowed to form unions.
Tirupur is famous in the textile manufacturing sector. Products for many multi-national companies like Wall Mart, C&A, Diesel, Fila, and Reebok are manufactured here because of which these companies make a huge profit. It is the source of about Rs.12000 crore per annum of trade.
Discussing the report, speakers said that the main motive of the capitalist system is exploitation of workers and creation of maximum profit. These kinds of happenings have become common place in India. Workers and farmers across the country are committing suicide and this has been prevalent since the rule of the British. In the age of globalisation when Indian capitalists are out to become world players, this exploitation is becoming even more inhuman. Speakers also stressed on the fact that we would have to unite to put an end to this capitalist system and unite workers and peasants to establish a new political order.