Jaipur sandstone industry suffers due to Gujjar agitation

March 24th, 2011 - 7:25 pm ICT by ANI  

Jaipur, Mar.24 (ANI): Repeated protests by the Gujjar Community is affecting the sandstone industry in Rajasthan capital Jaipur.

The Gujjar Community has been agitating for five percent reservation in government institutions and jobs.

Apart from destruction of government property worth crores, the protests have led to the shutdown of various manufacturing units.

Manufacturers have experienced workforce shortages, which has led to a slump in production and lowered demand.

Gopal Saini, a manufacturer, said: ” Earlier, buyers came to purchase finished products and gave us advance payment of one or two lakh rupees, but now buyers are not ready to pay even 1000 rupees. We are bearing heavy losses as a result.”

” Many workers used to work here earlier, but now they have moved to Mayawati’s construction site in Lucknow. We are facing problems in the business,” he added.

Sikandra, a small town, has made its mark on the global map for its sandstone work, but its image has been tarnished now as buyers are fearful of visiting the town, due to the Gujjar agitation and violence in the region.

The Gujjars agitation was first launched in 2007. Presently, they come under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category. However, the community is demanding that it be bracketed in the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. (ANI)

Related Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in National |

Subscribe