The textile factory was started nearly 175 years ago
Technology in factory must be upgraded: MLA
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Kozhikode: The decision of the State Cabinet to take over the Comtrust textile factory, one of the oldest and iconic remnants of Kozhikode's history, has come as a huge relief to its employees.
An ordinance approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday decided to take over the 2.62-acre Comtrust land and the factory buildings situated near Mananchira Square in the city. The ordinance also sought to recover 45 cents of factory land recently sold out to the Tourism Development Society.
The textile factory, one of the several contributions of the Basel Missionaries to North Kerala, was started nearly 175 years ago and was closed down recently due to severe financial problems. The closure, which led to relay strikes by the 300-odd employees for benefits, was later taken up by trade unions and political parties. A. Pradeepkumar MLA, who had raised the takeover issue for the first time in the State Assembly, said that the government had taken a major step towards preserving the city's heritage and addressing the employees' grievances.
Preservation
However, he said that a decision was yet to emerge on how to preserve the factory and its assets.
“A few ideas, including preserving part of it as a heritage museum, were mooted, but nothing has been finalised yet,” he said.
Mr. Pradeepkumar also said that the industry had to be protected by upgrading the technology and retaining the high standards to match the factory's legacy. “If we cannot continue to produce those famed textile items, there is no point in preserving it,” he said.
M. Rajan, former director of Comtrust and INTUC district committee president, who welcomed the government decision, however said that the government should also take over other Comtrust properties such as the tile factories at Feroke and Puthiyara to “get the full benefit of the decision.” The same demand was raised by Bharathiya Masdur Sangh leader K. Gangadharan, who also hailed the decision.
K.C. Ramachandran, State general secretary of INTUC, said that even amidst the ‘relief' the Comtrust employees' fate continues to remain uncertain. “A clear picture is yet to evolve,” he said. Mr. Ramachandran, who vowed to continue to fight for the employees' rights, said that the government should reclaim all the assets of the trust “unlawfully possessed by private parties” elsewhere.
11 June, 2010 by admin