KOCHI: Nearly 450 traditional matchstick and matchbox manufacturing units in the State are facing closure threat, and the industry requires urgent intervention from the government for survival.
“The Kerala State Match Splints and Veneers Manufacturers’ Association has decided to launch a strike soon, to bring the pressing needs of the ailing industry to the attention of the authorities,” said Association president K M Husain and general secretary K M A Latheef.
In view of the tough working environment in the State, and incidents of production units moving to the neighbouring states, the Association has urged the State Government to declare the matchbox and matchstick industry as ‘sick’, and to put matchstick tree in the ‘essential commodities’ category to prevent the transportation of the wood to the other states.
The other demands of the Association include permission for plantation of matchstick trees on vacant government plots, and distribution of plant saplings to schools and colleges.
The Association alleged that the long-pending demand to provide a portion of the amount paid as tax over the years as interest-free loan to the industry was ignored by the government.
At a meeting held in Aluva last week, the Association reconstituted its state committee.
The new office-bearers are K M Husain Karimakkatte (president); K M Latheef (general secretary); N G Ramesh (treasurer); Manikandan Nair and K P A Razak (vice-presidents); and Sundar Rajan, S R Saugar, Robin Vincent, P Manikandan and Don Paul (joint secretaries).
