Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for a positive approach from all for finding a lasting solution to the unrest in the plantation industry. Speaking to mediapersons after meeting a five-member team of leaders of women plantation workers of Munnar at his residence at Puthuppally on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the government could not take any decision that would destroy the plantation industry in Kerala. “All of us should take a positive approach to the issues. Then only will we be able to find a solution,” he said.
Mr. Chandy expressed the hope that the second round of talks with unions in the plantation sector scheduled for September 29 would be able to resolve the problems.
According to Congress leader Lathika Subhash, who was with the Munnar agitation leaders, the Chief Minister empathised with their plight but told the leaders that he was also informed of the challenges faced by the management, especially with regard to productivity of the employees. The five-member team comprising of Lissy Sunny, Gomathy, Kausalya, Rajeswari, and Muniyammal had got down at Kottayam on their way back from Thiruvananthapuram where they had met Labour Minister Shibu Baby John. They were not part of Saturday’s labour talks. They announced their decision to keep off the strike declared by the unions from Monday.
