The shutdown of the port, textile mills, thermal power plants, Food Corporation of India warehouses, salt pans and numerous small and large industries, including the Sterlite Copper plant, has led to significant job losses in Thoothukudi district, according to P. Kathirvel, working president of Tamil Nadu INTUC.
In a statement, he claimed that the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant alone had displaced over 1,500 workers and disrupted the livelihood of approximately 40,000 people. Additionally, the closure of other industries had left nearly one million daily wage labourers unemployed. Addressing past challenges and reopening the Sterlite plant could revive employment opportunities and the livelihood of 40,000 families in nearby villages, he added.
He said Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi had appealed to the Central government to establish semiconductor manufacturing units in the district. Such units could potentially provide employment to around 30,000 people and catalyse regional economic growth, he added.
Published – December 20, 2024 08:19 pm IST