Amirul Laskar, a 40-year-old former worker at Delta Jute Mill in Manikpur village near Kolkata, has been unemployed for three months following the mill’s closure due to financial problems. This shutdown has made it difficult for Laskar to support his parents, wife, and 18-month-old daughter. He notes that similar disruptions occurred several times last year, but the situation has not improved. In desperation, Laskar is considering relocating to another state in search of work to sustain his family.
Laskar is among the 4,000 workers impacted by the mill’s February shutdown. The jute industry, dubbed the golden fibre, is a vital economic sector in West Bengal, supporting around 4.8 million people, including four million farmers. India, as the world’s largest producer of jute, meets 95% of its domestic demand and exports the remainder. Despite its significance, workers and their families feel neglected, only receiving political attention during election periods.
As national elections approach, with polls set for May 20 in West Bengal’s jute belt, political tensions are rising. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) face the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), led by the Indian National Congress. Modi has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the state’s ruling party, of causing the industry’s decline and the workers’ suffering. He highlighted the federal government’s mandate for grain packing in jute bags as a measure to boost the industry.
However, workers like Laskar blame both the TMC and BJP for their predicament. They feel abandoned, noting that politicians rarely visit after elections. Laskar recalls the last political visit over a decade ago during the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) rule. Disillusioned, he plans to vote for the CPIM this time. Asma Khatun, the wife of another mill worker, describes their living conditions as dire, with overflowing drains and sewage entering homes during heavy rains, making the environment unbearable and causing frequent illnesses.
Local leaders confirm that such poor conditions are common across jute mills. CPIM leader Kayum Sheikh criticizes mill owners for neglecting hygiene, highlighting issues like leaking pipes, garbage, and power cuts following mill closures. Workers report that mainstream candidates have avoided seeking their votes, likely fearing their anger. However, the CPIM candidate has promised to address their problems, offering a glimmer of hope to the disenfranchised mill workers.
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