Cheyyar village heads object to ‘outside’ workers

Their move took the officials by surprise and police convinced them that the workers would be allowed only after thorough medical screening and moreover, the units were allowed only to function with 50 per cent workers.

Not satisfied with the explanation, the group trooped to Tiruvannamalai Collectorate and reiterated the same demand with Collector KS Kandasamy. The Collector told them in no uncertain terms that if they tried to prevent worker ingress to factories they would face tough and drastic action following which the village heads backtracked.

Collector Kandasamy told DT Next that “They want the 100-day job scheme for their villages saying they feared no danger of infection, but opposed workers coming to various units in Cheyyar SIPCOT from neighbouring Kancheepuram. I made them understand that this was just an effort to blackmail the units.” Entrepreneurs fear that locals who come for work will now demand higher wages.