Noida workers protested for days over one basic demand. Then came the violence |
Since Thursday last week, hundreds of contractual workers blockaded the main road next to the NSEZ metro station in Noida. They stood in the sun demanding one thing: a minimum wage of Rs 20,000.
By Monday, that protest spilled into a wider, more volatile confrontation across Noida’s industrial belt.
Thousands of workers, primarily from the garments sector, reportedly took to the streets across different areas of Phase II, with protests spreading to Sector 62 and causing major traffic snarls. In Sector 84 of Phase I, protesters allegedly set vehicles on fire, with two vehicles reported gutted. During demonstrations, some protesters allegedly vandalised even a police car and office property, and incidents of stone pelting were reported. Police personnel were deployed across affected areas and used tear gas to disperse crowds. Over 50 people have been arrested.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said workers must get their due and industries must follow labour laws. He, however, directed authorities to take strict action against “anti-social elements” trying to instigate workers.
The escalation came a day after officials from the district administration, police, and the development authority met worker representatives and assured them that their demands would be considered. Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam announced a slew of welfare measures on Sunday, but protesting workers said these left out their primary demand for a salary increase.
The workers were primarily from Richa Global, Idemia Syscom India Private Limited, Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd and Paramount Products Pvt Ltd. Most of them have units in Hosiery Complex in Phase 2.
There had also been a general sense of astonishment among the striking workers at how long the protest had gone unnoticed, until it turned volatile.
‘Aren’t they supposed to listen to us?’
“Will they only come here when there is a casualty?” asked Arvind, one of the striking workers. “Isn’t a peaceful protest worth covering? Aren’t they supposed to listen to us?"
Rupesh, one of the........