Tamil Nadu’s safety matches industry on verge of closure due to paucity of raw material

Following government’s nod, the safety matches units in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district resumed operations, adhering to the restrictions and guidelines issued by the authorities. But a few days into production and the industry is already struggling to source raw materials such as wood to produce matchsticks from neighbouring Puducherry and Kerala amid restrictions on movement due to lockdown.

Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu):Even as the Centre has watered down a host of stringent measures and allowed some essential industries to function in certain zones in its recent order extending the lockdown, the safety matches industry Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district is on the verge of closure due to paucity of raw materials rendering the workers stare at an uncertain future.

Given the huge labour force absorbed by industries such as that of safety matches and fireworks in this perennially drought-hit region in and around Sattur in the southern part of the state, less than a fortnight ago, state Minister for information and publicity Kadambur Raju allowed safety matches units to function amid restrictions during the lockdown.

Following government’s nod, the safety matches units resumed operations in the district, adhering to the restrictions and guidelines issued by the authorities. But a few days into production and the industry is already struggling to source raw materials such as potassium chlorate and wood to produce matchsticks from neighbouring Puducherry and Kerala amid restrictions on inter-state movement due to the lockdown.

While the industry is, for the time being, managing production with the stock of raw material available with them, the owners of these units are, however, expressing concern over long term functioning.

This uncertainty has left thousands of workers dependent upon the industry in the lurch.

Meanwhile, Congress MP from Virudhunagar constituency B Manickam Tagore has urged the Puducherry government to permit the production and dispatch of ‘potassium chlorate’ to the safety matches units in Tamil Nadu to protect the livelihood of lakhs of people dependent on this industry.

In a representation sent to Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy, Tagore said that Virudhunagar is the major hub for the manufacture of safety matches. He said that potassium chlorate, which is the major raw material for the manufacture of safety matches, is procured from the Karaikal region in Puducherry.