Pathanamthitta, Friday 02 Jan 2009: Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar, chairman of the high-power committee on Sabarimala appointed by the Kerala High Court, says that the strike by daily-wage workers at the aravana plant at Sabarimala has not affected ‘aravana’ production as the workers who took part in the strike are attached to the packing section.

Terming the strike unfortunate, Mr. Jayakumar said it was owing to some false information received by the workers on the daily wage revision. He said the committee had recommended a wage revision on its own and not on the basis of any demand put forth by the workers.
He said the administrative officer at Sabarimala would act as the labour welfare officer at the Sannidhanam till an official with independent charge was posted there during the Makaravilakku festival.

Mr. Jayakumar said the strike had not affected ‘aravana’ production as the workers who took part in the strike were attached to the packing section.
He said the buffer stock of ‘aravana’ exceeded 10.5 lakh cans and that of ‘appam’ 4.5 lakh packets as on Thursday evening.
The committee would discuss the circumstances leading to the workers’ strike at its meeting on Monday, he said.