Delhi: Joint TUs' Platform Demands Strict Action Against Those Responsible for Alipur Factory Fire

New Delhi: The Joint Platform of Trade Unions held a protest demonstration on Tuesday at the District Magistrate’s office in Alipur in North Delhi, demanding strict action against all those responsible for the massive fire in an illegal paint factory on February 15. The fire claimed the lives of 10 workers and the owner’s father.

The factory was operating in a residential area, disregarding safety norms. A growing trend in the Capital city.

After the demonstration, a delegation of the joint TU platform, along with Ram Surat Singh and Ram Parvesh (relatives of the two deceased workers) met the ADM Nilesh Nishikant and submitted the memorandum of demands, a press release issued by the joint platform said.

The joint platform demanded a hike in compensation to Rs 25 lakh for the dependents of the deceased, a survey of damage caused in the neighbourhood and giving compensation to those whose properties were lost as well. 

Since there are thousands of such buildings in the national capital, where many employees are currently working without safety norms in place, the trade unions demanded that a survey should be done to identify illegal industries and shift them from residential areas to industrial areas.

“Apart from the owner, action should also be taken against the officials responsible for such repeated industrial accidents. The guilty local officials must be suspended, under whom such illegal factories continue to operate,” read the press statement.

After meeting the ADM, the delegation said that he assured them that the administration would release the stipulated compensation amount for such disasters in five-six days.

The delegation was also assured immediate action on surveying illegal factories and relocating them. However, no clear answer was given on the demand for action and suspension against the officials responsible.

The TU said they had already given a call for another demonstration on February 22 in front of the Labour Commissioner’s office on this issue and other demands related to workers.

 The trade unions represented in Tuesday’s protest demonstration were from the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, AICCTU, ICTU, and IFTU, along with other workers and family members of the deceased.