Coimbatore: Production of bricks at more than 300 brick kiln units functioning in and around Chinna Thadagam, Periya Thadagam, Veerapandi, Kanuvai and Nanjundapuram areas in Coimbatore have taken a massive hit, after thousands of labourers who predominantly are migrant workers from North India have left to exercise their voting rights.
Coimbatore: Production of bricks at more than 300 brick kiln units functioning in and around Chinna Thadagam, Periya Thadagam, Veerapandi, Kanuvai and Nanjundapuram areas in Coimbatore have taken a massive hit, after thousands of labourers who predominantly are migrant workers from North India have left to exercise their voting rights.
On a daily basis, over a lakh bricks are manufactured at these kilns situated at the outskirts of the city and are transported to various parts of Tamil Nadu.
More than 50,000 workers who are employed at these brick kilns hail from Bihar, Odisha, Assam and other North Eastern places. With the elections nearing in their hometowns, these workers have left along with their families to their hometowns to cast their votes.
Usually these labourers take a long break only during festivities like Diwali but now due to elections, majority of the labourer have left to their home town. Owing to lack of manpower, the production of bricks has taken a big hit, lament the brick kiln owners.
Apart from casting votes, a majority of these labourers participate in election rallies and campaigns, for which their travel expenses have been borne by the political parties. Hence, they would return back to work only after the counting day, say the brick manufacturers.
In a bid to address this issue, the brick manufacturers have jointly urged the Election Commission to ensure postal voting rights for migrant workers in industrial cities like Coimbatore.