The deaths of workers in factories in Mahbubnagar district recently exposes yet again how these units are running without proper safety norms.
Gross negligence on the part of factory managements is snuffing out lives of migrant workers in the district. In the last two years, four persons died on an average every month in various factories. However, the factory managements suppress information about most of the deaths.
There are nearly 100 factories, big and small, in Shadnagar and Jadcherla, the industrial areas in the district. Of them, 60 percent are operating without valid licences. The fact came to light when officials said that only 25 factories were functioning in the district.
Of the total 100, 20 are steel factories. Many of the factories having licences were also found to be lacking in safety measures.
Despite the large number of deaths, the factories’ managements are continuing to enjoy impunity from law as majority of the workers are migrants, belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.
Moreover, majority of the cases being filed are against the officials in the factories but not against the management which are being gradually diluted.
The managements are apparently more interested in damage control than in preventing the damage.
Speaking to this paper, M Venkanna, chief inspector of factories, said that a special drive would be held to transform factories as ‘no-accident companies’.
During the drive, special camps would be held to create awareness about safety measures among factory officials and workers, he said.