Tamil Nadu Milk & Dairy Development Minister Rajendhira Bhalaji has convinced cracker-manufacturers, who had been striking work for the past 25 days, to call off their strike and resume their work.

Cracker-manufacturers in and around Sivakasi, a huge South Asian hub in the State for manufacturing crackers and explosives to commemorate celebrations/festivities, were on strike for the past three weeks seeking exemption of certain stipulations levied by the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests.  They had also requested the Supreme Court to dispose on priority basis cases regarding crackers manufacturing.

The strike included slogan raising, blockage of roads and fast protest.  Livelihood rights of more than 5 lakh employees/workers, heavily dependent on crackers manufacturing, were at peril in view of the on-going strike. After Bhalaji held talks with representatives of crackers manufacturers and assured them that their issues would be taken up with the Centre, the manufacturers decided to call off their strike.

The manufacturers announced their decision to resume work from Monday (22nd January) which has not only gladdened the hearts of families of these workers but also the common public.