Lok Sabha polls: Stagnant wages and respiratory problems plague Firozabad
The third phase is important for the Yadav family as several of its members, including Akshaya Yadav (left), Dimple Yadav and Aditya Yadav, are embroiled in the poll battle. (Photos: X)
Over the past five years, the Firozabad Lok Sabha constituency has been the scene of two major shifts: the city, once called ‘Suhag Nagri’ for its glittering bangles, has slowly turned to alcohol bottle manufacturing, and that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ) is in control here and is breaking the stronghold of the Samajwadi Party.
At the heart of this glass factory center, workers’ wages and working conditions remain unaffected by the passage of time. Pointing to a plume of dust rising from a crushing unit, 37-year-old Saroj offers a grim perspective: “We are all headed for the same fate: death. It’s just that some of us who breathe these deadly fumes are on a faster track.”
The cityscape, reminiscent of the archetypal ‘Coketown’, is a scene of ceaseless toil. Hundreds of workers work in the oppressive heat of colossal ovens, where temperatures can reach 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Firozabad, an industrial hub with nearly 8,000 registered units, is gearing up for its election manifesto on May 7. More than half of these units are involved in glassware making, a sector that suffers from a shortage of official data due to its unorganized nature. Media reports suggest that the bangle industry here alone has a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore. The turnover of the entire glass industry is estimated at over Rs 15,000 crore. Despite the constant buzz of activity, workers in this city lament the little increase in wages, the scarcity of opportunities and the apparent indifference of the government.
“There is a palpable sense of frustration among workers due to declining job opportunities, stagnant wages, rising inflation and the government’s apparent lack of interest in coming up with special initiatives for the sector,” says Mohammed Shafeeq, 56, a artisan at Jain Bangles. , a leading manufacturer in the city.
Nafe Alam, 25, who lost his father to a lung infection last year, echoes Shafeeq’s sentiments. He claims his wages have remained unchanged since he started working half a decade ago. “The Covid pandemic has led to the closure of hundreds of units in the area, leaving many unemployed. We are forced to work for lower wages due to scarce work opportunities. Every day is a struggle for me, and I fear that I will suffer the same fate as my father,” he confides.
The city appears to suffer from a high incidence of lung infections and other respiratory diseases. This is evident from the increase in the number of small clinics and ‘jhola-chaap’ doctors (quacks) offering treatment across the city. “Government hospitals in the city are not equipped to handle such cases. People often come to us for treatment. Neither can we offer them (glass workers) a full treatment, nor can they afford it. At best, we can only provide emergency measures,” said a doctor at a private clinic. Highlighting these issues, SP candidate Akshaya Yadav – who wants to win back the seat once represented by his cousin and party president Akhilesh Yadav – has spoken at his public rallies about the hardships faced by glass workers.
Glassmakers make up a substantial portion of the constituency’s three million residents, and other major groups include farmers and workers. The caste mix is also interesting: the Yadavs form the largest community (nearly 500,000 voters), followed by Dalits (350,000 voters), Muslims (250,000 voters), Rajputs (150,000 voters) and Brahmins (100,000 voters).
On the other hand, BJP’s Thakur Vishwadeep Singh, who entered the fray by replacing current MP Chandrasen Jadon, has reminded voters of his relief efforts during the Covid pandemic and subsequent welfare schemes provided by the central government in Narendra . Modi’s leadership.
“The SP is a family party and they have nothing to do with the problems of the workers. I am acutely aware of the hardships facing our glass industry and will do everything I can to bring the best medical facilities to the city. I will also resolve the issue of gas (pricing) and get a special budget approved by the central government to solve the infrastructure problems here,” Singh told a public meeting.
Meanwhile, the most important piece of the Firozabad puzzle, Shivpal Singh Yadav – uncle of Akshaya who played a major role in his defeat last time by just a margin of 28,000 votes – is now back in his cousin’s camp and expanding his activities actively off. support. “Chachaji’s ghar wapsi is a boost for Akshaya. Last time, internal kalah (infighting) led to the defeat of the Samajwadi Party by a narrow margin. The government had done nothing for the glass industry all those years. The price of gas (PNG) is also skyrocketing, making the business highly unprofitable. The government can say that this is due to the international conflicts, but giving a special package is completely in their hands,” argues Khalid Naseer, owner of a small manufacturing unit in Narayan Nagar.
First print: May 6, 2024 | 11:44 PM IST