12,000 Migrant Workers Have Fled Gujarat: Industries Association

Federation of Industries Association Gujarat claims that 12,000 workers have fled the state after recent violence.

A canning factory (small enterprise) based at Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation in Sanand.

(Photo: Rahul Nair/The Quint)

A visibly stressed Ajit Shah, president of Sanand Industries Association, held a press conference in Ahmedabad on Monday, 8 October, after thousands of migrant workers fled Gujarat in the wake of widespread violence across the state.

Shah claimed that around 12,000 migrants who work in factories and small-scale industrial units across north Gujarat have left the state, after incidents of violence spread in the aftermath of a 14-month-old girl’s rape on 28 September, in the Sabarkantha district.

“We appeal to the government to please shut down mobile internet and WhatsApp services for a couple of days to curb the rumour-mongering.”

Ajit Shah, president of Sanand Industries Association

According to Shah, 4,000 workers from Sanand in Ahmedabad; 2,000 workers from Chattral in Gandhinagar; 200 from Mehsana district; 200 from Visnagar in Ahmedabad; 350 from Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha; 1,000 from Odhav in Ahmedabad and another 1,500 workers from Kathwada industrial area have rushed out of the state.

‘Appeal to All Parties to Save the Industries of Gujarat’

Shah appealed to the government, the Opposition and any other social organisation which has vested interests in the recent events, “to maintain peace and put an end to the political bickering.”

“Your statements affect the workers and they flee, which results in a slump in manufacturing. There is no Gujarat if there is no industry and business here. Please keep your political statements (to yourself) for 2019 and save the industries of Gujarat.”

Ajit Shah, President, Sanand Industries Association

According to Shah, the biggest impact was seen in the casting and small-scale industries, as it resulted in a cascading effect on other industries that are dependent on them for raw materials.

“In Bol Village, Sanand, around 6,000 migrant workers have rented homes and another 10,000 workers are spread across surrounding villages. These workers have been given repeated assurances by the villagers and the Sarpanch that no harm will come their way. For the last two days, teams from State Reserve Police (SRP) have been patrolling the industrial belt as well,” he added.

‘Why is the DGP Lying?’

Ganpat Mehta, who runs the PlastinIndia unit in Chattral GIDC, Gandhinagar, slammed Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha for ‘lying’ in a recent press conference.

“The DGP said that the workers have gone home for the holidays. Who is he lying to? Navaratri hasn’t started yet and there are (still some) days left for Dussehra to begin. We do not grant anyone leaves till the eve of Diwali, because production is at its peak.”

Ganpat Mehta, who runs the PlastinIndia unit in Chattral GIDC, said.

He further added, “It is as if a curfew has been imposed in the GIDC. Over 50 percent of our workforce has fled and those left behind are afraid to turn up to work.”

“SRP and police protection came in very late... had it been in earlier, we could have continued our manufacturing without any issue. The families of the workers who stayed back are in a state of panic and are calling them back home,” he added.

Following the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district, six districts, most of them in north Gujarat, have witnessed sporadic incidents of violence against Hindi-speaking people.

Attacks on migrant workers in Gujarat continue unabated even after the DGP said that security has been beefed up in areas where north Indian labourers live and work. The police, meanwhile, has arrested 342 persons and 42 cases have been filed so far.