Samayalar Sangam Join Together To Get Their Demands

All is not well with the one lakh-odd `cooks spread across the state whose living conditions leave much to be desired. Having cooked up a career in culinary art, they are pulling strings from all sides to get their voice heard. Of the 100-plus associations in Tamil Nadu, only half a dozen seems to be active in knocking the doors of the government in getting their legitimate demands fulfilled.

Speaking to the reporters, Samayalar Sangam (Culinary Workers Association) president T N Saminathan, known as Topaz Iyer in culinary workers circle, said that he had to fight a lone battle for several years, writing to both the Centre and the State seeking to bring them under the unorganised sector category. At last, the state government came out with an order, dated August 27, 1997, declaring them as unorganised sector under miscellaneous trade category. However, things remained the same for them.

Referring to government stipulated norms of minimum 25,000 members for forming a welfare board, he said that their dream is yet to materialise since there were only 7,000 members. This is because of lack of awareness and interest among the culinary workers to foem themselves into an association, Iyer said. Difference of opinion and ego problem had split and separated the associations. Now associations are divided. Two of the major associations in Chennai seldom take up the cause of the culinary workers, he added.

He wondered how the government could bend its rules to start a welfare board for palm workers who had a membership of less than 10,000. There is no caste, creed or colour among culinary workers. However, the flip side is that none of their associations have political patronage. Maybe if they had some political lineage, their work would have become easier, he said.

Meanwhile, K Mohan, general secretary of the state-wide association for culinary workers, said that they have a charter of demands which included oldage pension, financial assistance for their wards, education expenses, solatium on death and housing facility. No political party is interested in the welfare of the culinary workers, he charged. Coimbatore District Samayal Kalaingargal Munnetra Sangam secretary A Ganesan said that they are making all-out efforts to bring more number of culinary workers under the association banner.

Related Posts by Categories

Business News

• Coimbatore identified for lean manufacturing programme
• Industrial estates for smaller units sought
• BEML opens its Vendor Dev Office !!
• L & T Opens its casting unit !!
• Kannan Departmental Stores on expansion
• Chamber seeks removal of duty for fibre imports
• Tata launches Photon Plus in Coimbatore
• LMW sees increase in capacity utilisation
• Premier mills fory into luxary bed market
• India tops in BPO list !
• Ramco organises programme to explain its products
• Skill development programme
• L&T bags hospital building order at cbe !
• NEPC sets up a SEZ at Palladam !!
• Top Pricol official injured in an Attack
• Swiss delegation explores business opportunities
• Move to derecognise Coimbatore Stock Exchange stayed by HC
• ‘Made in Coimbatore’ expo in Mangalore
• Dresser establishes EOU in Coimbatore
• UNIDO launching new cluster programme !
• Powerloom strike continues.....
• Pump set price may go up !!
• Japanese delegation explores opportunities in semiconductor sector
• Duty Free Shop Inaugurated At Coimbatore Airport
• U.S Consulate Consul General @ Coimbatore

General

• Indian navy felicitate shooters !
• Voters strength goes up by 9%
• Nuts 'n' Spices plansto enter cbe !
• உலகத் தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாடு - 5 நாள் நிகழ்ச்சி நிரல்
• ‘Manage the present industrial scenario well’
• Consumer body opposes ‘illegal, excess bus fare’
• Trial run on New Irugur - N.cbe Track !!
• Traffic diversions in city today
• New fire tenders for Coimbatore Airport
• Power cabels t go underground !!
• Eclipse Watch !!
• Army recruitment announcement
• SIEMA to develop ‘Made in Coimbatore’ brand
• Copenhagen summit: City students express solidarity
• Awareness campaign for TNSTC drivers
• Botanical garden: soil samples taken
• NASSCOM to help police ..
• YES plus from 5th Jan
• Training for women
• Youth urged to become entrepreneurs
• Six-a-side cricket to be conducted !!
• Wild jackals kill 39 sheeps !
• Biometric survey under houses for urban poor scheme
• Helmet must from 10th dec !!
• Kamal Nath thanked !