The industrial outlook of this small town is not old. A few years ago, it was famous for its agriculture university.
But, during the last three to four years, Pantnagar has attained the status of a big industrial town where top-notch companies like Tata Motors, Delta, HP, Bajaj Auto, Britannia, and Dabur have set up their manufacturing facilities.
During the period of industrial growth, thousands of locals got jobs in various factories. Till last month, the mood was cheerful.
And now, the fortnight-long strike by the workers of Nestle India here has suddenly become a cause for concern. In the past also, a couple of companies like Bhaskar, which produces gensets, witnessed similar strikes. But the agitation did not prolong.
The managers of various companies, requesting anonymity, described the Nestle strike as illegitimate and unjustified. “Why such a strike when the companies here are offering salaries and perks in accordance with market and government guidelines,” said a plant head.
Other managers also expressed similar concerns and said such incidents may have far-reaching consequences. “If today, it is Nestle, such strike can knock at our doors also,” said a company official.
However, assistant labour commissioner Vipin Kumar, who is trying to settle the Nestle issue, said the agitation should be seen in isolation. “There is no labour unrest as such in Pantnagar as of now,” Kumar said.
Significantly, most of the companies have recruited 70 per cent of the workforce from Uttarakhand according to the guidelines of the state government. Companies like Bajaj Auto have even adopted industrial training institutes (ITIs) to train young students catering to the need of industrial production. “We are giving best salaries to our workers,” said a Tata Motors official.
The strike at Nestle was triggered by the removal of two probationers on April 27 over performance. On May 1, a meeting of the management and the striking employees was called and the issue settled. But the next day, the Nestle management allegedly suspended four more workers, forcing the employees to go on an indefinite strike.
The factory primarily produces food items like Maggie noodles. Nestle set up the Pantnagar factory to take the benefits of a slew of tax incentives available under the special industrial package 2003.
The factory is a crucial link in Nestle India’s supply chain.
