Ceramic players mull indefinite hunger strike from Dec 23

Move to come into effect if the govt doesn't take concrete action with regard to their pending demands, including cheaper natural gas, excise duty, VAT

Members of the Morbi-based ceramic units have decided to go on indefinite hunger strike from December 23 if the state government does not take any concrete action with regard to their pending demands including cheaper natural gas, change in excise duty and value added tax (VAT).

“As response from state government has been negative on our issues including gas price and VAT, we have decided to go on indefinite hunger strike,” said Sukhdev Patel, president of Gujarat Granito Vitrified Association.

He said, "We have started symbolic hunger strike from Thursday in Morbi as our demands have not been heard by the state government. Initially, the symbolic hunger strike began from morning till evening and if the situation remains the same, then we will go on indefinite hunger strike."

Ceramic industries in Morbi have shut down operations since November 27 as a sign of protest and have been demanding cheaper gas and reduction in excise duty and VAT. This shutdown has hit traders across the country and resulted in huge losses to the unit owners. According to the ceramic industry sources, the industry is losing about Rs  50 crore every day in strike.

Meanwhile, a delegation of various ceramic associations had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Thursday. The Prime Minister had assured them to do the needful with respect to their demand on reducing excise duty from present rate of 12.36 per cent and discouraging ceramic imports from China by re-imposing 150 per cent anti-dumping duty.

Patel said, “Since last one month, we have done meetings with GSPC official, finance minister Nitin Patel and power minister Saurabh Patel, but result was nothing. As it is matter of our survival, we have decided to go on hunger strike.”

According to industry sources, due to strike labourers that come from outside of Gujarat are now leaving Morbi to look for work. Some of them are also returning to their home towns.

The strike has impacted over 200,000 people directly and indirectly associated with the industry. Not only ceramic industry but the strike has affected packaging industry, paper units, transporters and raw material suppliers.