Summary:
Over 5,000 porters were on strike at different wholesale markets of the city including the Chhawani mandi demanding smaller size sacks. Indore: Traders of Chhawani Anaj Mandi on Wednesday muscled out the porters of their indefinite strike and fresh arrivals of grain from outstation markets resumed.The strike going on since September 1 ended after traders threatened to bring in their private labourers on work at the mandi. Until now the supply was coming from stocks. Porters were demanding to reduce the size of the sacks to 50 kg from the existing 90 kg to 100 kg for grains.Around 10,000 bags (1 bag weigh 100 kg) of grains were unloaded at the Chhawani market kicking off the trade that was completely at halt since September 1.Sakal Anaj Dalhan Tilhan Vyapari Mahasangh Samiti president Gopal Das Agrawal said, “Finally trade resumed from Wednesday. There are lakhs of tonnes of grains stocked in 100 kg sacks.”Traders said, everyone was at loss due to this strike because farmers were not able to get their supplies and traders were not able to trade.A representative for porters at the Mandi Board, Ashok Kadam said, “We have resumed work at the Chhawani mandi but we want the government to intervene as we are forced to carry such high weights which is violation of the Human Rights.”Mandi traders said, it is not possible for us to reduce the size of the sacks instantly because the availability of small size sacks is limited and then the time for loading and unloading will increase substantially..